WELLNESS MATTERS - EVERYONE SHOULD EMBRACE IT

Years ago, when I started my career at American Express, I was impressed by the fact that Jim Robinson, then CEO and Chairman, made time for his own wellness. This was long before the term “wellness” came into fashion.  Robinson scheduled time on his calendar to go to the company gym and workout during the day.  In effect he scheduled his workout sessions like any other meeting.  It was a good lesson for me to learn early on; I figured if the CEO of Amex had time to exercise and make it a priority, I certainly should too.

I focus here on physical wellness although mental wellness is also part of a comprehensive approach to wellness. 

Regular cardio and resistance exercise provides numerous benefits that benefit both the individual and the organization.  Here are just a few:

BETTER HEALTH – everything from lower blood pressure and weight loss to better sleeping are common results of a consistent exercise regime. Healthier people are also less likely to fall ill and miss work.

CLEARER THINKING – exercise gets your blood flowing and clears your head helping you to think more clearly. Clearer thinking of course can result in better results for any task undertaken.

IMPROVED DIET – the more you exercise the better you tend to eat.  And the better you eat the more your health improves. Exercise and diet tend to go hand in hand. 

REDUCED STRESS  - a regular exercise regimen will naturally reduce stress levels.  Reduced stress lowers risk of many ailments including stroke and heart attack.

ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY – if you feel better, think better, and are less stressed it’s likely that your productivity will improve.

Wellness is a win-win for the individual and the organization.  Embrace it and thrive.

Talk to your doctor before embarking on a new exercise program.