Exercise and PR – work it out
Posted on Fri, Jan 28, 2011
By Katie
"I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing." — Marsha Doble
I am a huge believer in the mental, physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise, and there are many studies supporting the idea that pre-work workouts result in better performance on the job.
This time of year requires more motivation than usual. The discipline required to get out of bed before 5 a.m. is unrivaled given the dark, cold weather. This morning at the bus stop – aside from thinking about how glittens are a genius invention I cannot live without – I reminded myself why exercise is important and how it directly correlates to success in PR and business:
- Release your productivity: The hormones produced by exercise result in happiness, decreased anxiety, increased energy and clearer focus.
- Be competitive: Joining a sports team or having a gym buddy to out-run gives you a taste of what it feels like to work hard and succeed. This naturally carries over and promotes a healthy, aggressive perspective on life and work.
- Leave work at work: PR is stressful – no doubt. We are juggling numerous client requests, daily tasks and ongoing goals that must be met on time. You might leave work at 6 or 7 p.m., but is your brain ready to shut down at 10? Exercise helps you fall asleep and improve overall sleep patterns, which -- hello -- only helps you get up and start all over again.
- Work harder, better, faster, stronge: At Metis, we are constantly in search of (and promoting) technology that makes us work more efficiently. When I arrive at work in the morning, I’ve already been up for two or three hours, and I’m ready to recite my to-do list for the day and get cranking.
- Condition your body and mind: In PR, we are always in training and learning. We encourage each other and our clients to set goals that are both challenging and attainable. Training for something that requires long-term planning requires discipline, motivation, time management and commitment.
As my favorite Thursday morning Pilates teacher proclaims every week, “go forth with calm determination.” I think she’s on to something.