Got an interview or presentation? Get some exercise first!

It’s easy to sit and over-think an upcoming job interview, important meeting, or business presentation. Many of us have done exactly that – more times than we’d like to count. And our schedules grow cramped and confused, so we find ourselves skipping personal pursuits. Like exercise.

We’ve likely heard that physical fitness (at any level) can improve our overall health and perhaps even our professional performance.

So what do we do, drop and give ‘em 20 in the company hallway? 

Simply pacing the floor and fretting about that upcoming appointment doesn’t exactly count, either.

To gain the benefits, we need to mark out time windows regularly for personal exercise. We know it’s good for us in plentiful ways, both on and off the job.

Exercise may improve both thinking and memory functions, according to Heidi Godman, executive editor of Harvard Health Letter. “Indirectly, exercise improves mood and sleep, and reduces stress and anxiety,” Godman said.

“With every step you take, every mile you pedal or every lap you swim around the pool, you’re enhancing your cognitive fitness. Recent studies suggest that the activities you do to improve your body also benefit your brain,” The Cleveland Clinic reported.

“When you exercise, your body releases chemicals such as dopamine (pronounced doh-pa-meen) and endorphins (en-door-fins) in your brain that make you feel happy. Not only is your brain dumping out feel-good chemicals, but exercise also helps your brain get rid of chemicals that make you feel stressed and anxious,” a recent Dana Foundation report explained. “People who exercise tend to be happier and less stressed than those who don’t exercise. Regular exercise can also help you control your emotions when you do feel angry or upset.”

A Web MD write-up lists these common benefits of exercise:

• better memory/retention
• improved sleep / restfulness
• higher level of alertness
• more consistent concentration
• reduced anxiety
• stronger neuroplasticity / mental flexibility

Of course, regular exercise improves cardiopulmonary health and also points to potential prevention of depression, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and several other serious health conditions.

Can you just imagine how those exercise-related changes could help with job interviewing or even daily workplace activities and interactions?

Moderate exercise choices might include aerobics, bicycling, dancing, dog-walking, gymnastics, hiking, horseback riding, jogging, martial arts, roller-skating, rowing, skiing, swimming, tennis, walking, weightlifting, yardwork, and yoga. The trick is to find something we don’t absolutely hate to do – some form of exercise that we will actually continue consistently. Ideally, we choose a variety of fitness activities for optimum benefits and to keep us interested.

For example, my weekly schedule includes a few fitness classes, plus my individual runs and workouts. I didn’t pursue physical fitness personally for much of my life, but in recent years, it has become a priority. And it’s made an enormous difference in so many ways. (It all started with a life-changing medical diagnosis, which lit a fire under me. That’s a long story, but it led to my running full marathons.)

In addition to the personal benefits that result from practicing physical fitness, most people seem to find stress relief and a sense of satisfaction from achieving personal goals. Exercise activities also make us more interesting to potential employees, clients, co-workers and others, who find we have more than just “shop-talk” when conversations come up.

Those who participate in group exercise, just as gym classes or team sports may experience additional socialization, which can also carry over into improved performance and overall adaptability in the workplace.

Gee. Maybe that’s why lots of companies offer discounted gym memberships, or even on-site fitness facilities.

Image/s:

Adapted from public domain images

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Sometimes a simple career-choosing quiz can offer interesting results.

Job hunters and strategic careerists occasionally shell out plenty for questionnaires, surveys, and other tools that are aimed at helping them identify potential suitable careers. Students and recent graduates frequently take such tests too. Questions usually focus on abilities, education, experiences, interests, and training. The process may be simple and speedy, or it may prove quite complex.

Certainly, there’s no harm in trying out a career survey or dream job questionnaire. Several free ones are available online, and even these may help individuals evaluate possible professional pursuits.

Just for fun, I took Blogthings’ Quick and DirtyCareer Test online. My time investment was maybe one minute, as the process included four short, easy multiple-choice questions. Here’s what my results said:

Gotta admit it: I’m chuckling a bit over this one.

• Archaeologist? Sure, I participated in an archaeological dig as a teen. I found it somewhat fascinating to uncover old pot shards and even some ancient bones.
• Astronomer? Um, not exactly my strongest suit in school.
• Book editor? Bingo!
• Business manager? Does self-employment count? I’m not big on paperwork, but I get it done. Still, I’d never let my accountant go.
• Civil engineer? Who are we kidding?
• Designer? I guess it depends on what’s being designed. I’ve dabbled in graphic design, fashion design, and even interior design. Mechanical or software design – not so much. Not at all!
• Economist? What did I just say about my accountant’s perpetual job security?
• Inventor? Not gonna touch this one.
• Judge? Pretty sure I’d drop the gavel.
• Scientist? Doubtful. My M.S. degree is in journalism, not chemistry or biology.

Looking for new career options? This little free quiz might be worth a moment’s glance, even just for kicks. If you do try it out, c'mon back and tell us what you discovered (and whether you thought the results hit the mark ... or not).

Image/s:

Title graphic adapted from public domain image.

Quiz results artwork – from online quiz (fair use)

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Job change: 10 possible reasons for making a lateral move at work

Why might stepping aside be a smart career strategy?

Are you looking for a career change? Maybe in the market for a new job? Do you desire to move up in the world, and especially at work?

Changing jobs within your own company or by joining a different employer does not always mean making more money or climbing up the corporate ranks. However, even a lateral move can be advantageous for many reasons. Quite often, a sideways shift can eventually lead to several steps up.

Here are 10 possible reasons to make a strategic lateral career move, even if it means a small pay cut.

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

1. Add to your professional network.

Contacts are keys to employment advancement, and a sideways step on the job can add considerably.

Corporate headhunter Nick Corcodilos puts it this way: “You need to be part of a circle of friends — people who do the work you want to do — that imbues you with a fine reputation.”

2. Gain marketable skills.

What makes a job candidate appealing to a prospective employer? Talent is valuable, but it’s only tested by trial, which comes with exposure. Escaping the daily grind through a sideways job change can lead to new opportunities for training and practicing additional abilities.

3. Build your resume.

Of course, every new skill set and career experience becomes a resume builder. Future employment prospects may not care so much that a previous career move was lateral as that it showed initiative and creativity.

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4. Enjoy better benefits.

A sideways step on the corporate ladder may result in increased perks, such as paid tuition or expense reimbursements. The job change might include additional training, better scheduling, more travel (or less travel), a window workspace, part-time telecommuting, on-site child care or a paid parking spot. Everything counts.

5. Gain job security.

Is your department subject to downsizing? Are the pink slips flying in your division? A lateral move may be the best way to keep on bringing home a steady paycheck.

6. Find an upward track within the company.

In most organizations, certain departments tend to offer dead-end positions, while others may open up easily toward upward mobility. Smart staffers will check internal job postings for strategic moves.

7. Hook up with a mentor.

Can you spot a senior staffer in your company, whose character and experience you respect? How might a lateral job change allow you to work for this valued expert? The training and future employment reference could prove golden in time.

“A mentor can help your career, whether it is how to navigate the political landscape or how to improve your performance,” explains Dorothy Tannahill-Moran, of Career Rocketeer.

On the other hand, an insecure, inept, unpleasant or unethical boss can be more than enough reason to seek a new position, even if the new slot does not count as an upward move. Who wants to work for a wannabee or a rogue riding roughshod over his or her staffers?

8. Escape an unpleasant job.

Do you dread going to work each day? Job dissatisfaction can wreak havoc one anyone’s daily life, particularly when it comes from legitimate problems in the workplace. Eventually, this ongoing negativity of experience or environment may drag a person down, even detracting from his or her own sense of excellence or productivity. How any anyone be his or her best, if work is a daily discouragement? And how might this condition affect that person’s life in general?

Sliding into a comparable, but friendlier, work slot may improve health and career advancement.

9. Build better boundaries.

Is your job extra stressful? Do department politics cause you unnecessary worry, or is management taking advantage of your good will? Often, a sideways move to a new division may be just what the doctor ordered to cut conflicts or to set stricter standards for personal and family time.

10. Seek fresh challenges.

A parallel job may offer interdisciplinary exposure, which can supercharge a professional career. Task forces and multi-departmental projects are prime examples of these turbo moves.

No one wants to be a daily drone, so it pays to evaluate employment continually. “Always take the time to assess what you want to do! Always,” counsels Career Sherpa’s Hannah Morgan.

In any job field, new responsibilities can prove stimulating, so a lateral change can be a big boost, even if it doesn’t lead immediately to a loftier professional title or a pay increase.

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Adapted from public domain image.

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