How can taking time in my day to take a walk help me do better work?
My wife leads a fitness class where we live and recently she provided her entire class hot pink shirts that say “Walk Yourself Happy”. After receiving their shirts, participants wore them to the next class. They were full of smiles and seemed to put a little extra pep into their workout session. My wife bought me a shirt, too, so I wore it when we did our daily walks on our most recent cruise.
ADDING A DAILY WALK INTO YOUR SCHEDULE
It isn’t just cruises when my wife and I walk together. We do a daily walk in the evening—and it is a big deal to us. It never fails to bring us closer and closer, as we do it throughout the years. It’s a time when we can recap the day, share accomplishments and challenges, and help each other with situations we face. Without our daily walks we are unhappy. We are aware that these walks make us function more efficiently and effectively the next day.
WHO COULD YOU DO A DAILY WALK WITH?
In my time management book (PerfectTIMING), I mention that exercise is an important part of a person’s day. It keeps you healthy—but it also keeps you happy! And yes, if you take a walk (especially with someone you enjoy being with) you really do WALK YOURSELF HAPPY. Your worries seem to melt away and all of a sudden your biggest problems don’t seem so big any more. You begin to realize that in the scheme of things, there are much bigger fish to fry than just what looks like a big deal that day.
YOU COULD BE GETTING BETTER RESULTS THAN YOU ARE NOW
WALKING YOURSELF HAPPY also saves you time during your workday. After that day’s walk (or perhaps you do one in the morning and one in the afternoon) you think quicker, clearer and come up with better ideas. Walking so good for you mentally and physically. It not only saves you time, but could save your life. Remember: It is never wasted time to keep your body in a condition to perform at its very best.
FROM MEDIOCRITY TO PEAK PERFORMANCE
One of my favorite part-time jobs was when I taught aerobics at a local YMCA. They gave me the 6:30 am class, since none of the other instructors wanted to teach it. They said it was way too early. I’m an early riser, so I loved it. My goal was to take a group of folks (some of who didn’t look real happy about being there) and make them happy about exercising. My class was comprised of young college students, city leaders and folks from all walks of life. As I began to teach, I would watch them slowly get into the groove. Then, by the end of the session they would be laughing, smiling and yelling. (I pushed them to do 75% of what their bodies could stand.)
WALK YOURSELF HAPPY
Today, as an executive coach, I like to make sure my executives are looking at their whole life, not just the time they spend on their work. After all, their work is only a part of who they are. So fitness is a subject I explore with them, and more and more people are engaging in walking as part of their exercise. They love the time to think, plan, and WALK THEMSELVES HAPPY.
