When I was in the throes of writing my book, amBITCHous, I got a call from CNN asking me to appear as an expert giving advice to “workaholics.” I agreed. This was both ironic and hilarious given that I was, at that time, the quintessential offender, coming in to my office at noon each day to begin writing, then dragging myself home between two or three a.m. to grab some sleep, then get up, and do it again. For the first time in fifteen years, I wasn’t regularly running, practicing yoga, and weight training. I’d stopped cooking and had substituted healthy eating with order in/delivery. I hoped that my husband still remembered he had a wife. I figured I wouldn’t have any friends left by the time I delivered my manuscript. I loved my work, but I was way, way out of balance.
On the CNN segment, another expert who had created a sort of twelve-step program for workaholics said, while sitting in an empty conference room, “The problem is, no one shows up for the meetings because they can’t drag themselves away from their desks.” My niece and I guffawed, watching and replaying this lament.
Problem is, being chained to your desk isn’t funny, as you and I both know. Something’s got to give, or you’re not going to have a life. Even if we love our work, we’ve got to feel that we’ve got it going on outside of the office.
Here’s my advice for having an affair with fun—at work and in your personal life.
How to Motivate Yourself to Workout
Schedule with yourself an early a.m. workout three days a week—get up, have your cup of coffee or tea, a quick bite, and then lace up and go. Tell yourself, “I’m not allowed to go to work until I’ve worked out.” Be firm with yourself. Don’t procrastinate and say, “I’ll work out after work”; chances are, you won’t. Starting your day with exercise boosts your energy level, your mood, plus jump-starts your ability to effectively brainstorm work strategies. Oh, and your clothes will fit better—always a boost to our sense of well being.
Double Down
If you can’t bear to take time out from work to workout, turn your exercise time into professional development sessions. For example, Audible.com lets you download a variety audio information resources, including books, magazines, newspapers, radio shows and original programming using your MP3 player, Apple iPod, Pocket PC, Palm Handheld, or on CDs you burn yourself.
The Wall Street Journal provides a daily 55-minute audio edition of up to fifteen top stories from the pages of the Journal, updated each day at 6:30 a.m. ET.
Do your workout while briefing yourself on the day’s top business stories. What could be more of a win-win?
