How Sticking to my Fitness Routine Helped Me at Work

Since founding Gympass in 2012, I’ve had the opportunity to experience how working out can change peoples’ lives firsthand. I watched them become healthier and more self-assured as they made progress towards an active lifestyle. Inspired, I adopted my own morning workout routine, and it affected me in more ways than I could ever have imagined.

As any innovator will tell you, being an entrepreneur is very tough and I’m forced to be extremely organized. That said, I’ve made it a commitment to workout at least three times a week. I like to get started early in the morning, while my kids are still sleeping. I go to the gym to get energized and prepared for my day, so by the time I arrive at the office, I’m already charged up and ready to work.

It was difficult to give up the extra hour of sleep at first, but I was committed to achieving my goal. Initially, I felt like working out in the morning helped me escape my regular routine, but as time went on I discovered that it was much more than that. By setting time aside to workout, I found an outlet to relieve stress while practicing self-care. It wasn’t long before being proactive about my physical health improved my holistic wellbeing. In addition to losing weight, gaining strength, flexibility, and improving my balance, I also noticed that I was genuinely happier.

Looking back at my decision to commit to my workouts, I realize that it wasn’t ‘just’ about improving my physical health. Doing what I love, establishing a routine - and sticking to it - helped me become a better leader, a more effective organizer, and a more productive entrepreneur. How?

1. First and foremost, finding pleasure in the exercising routine

I believe that exercise is not only about reaching a goal or challenging myself, but also finding pleasure. By doing the activities I love (tennis, running and working out), I discovered a new and pleasurable source of ‘renewable energy’.

The happiness I had at work was now extended to my fitness routine. By practicing sports I enjoy, I completely changed my mindset around physical activities. They stopped being an obligation to become something enjoyable, which turned to be the most important reason for keeping me motivated.

2. Helped me plan personal and work objectives

I began to establish targets for both my personal and professional life. By trying to beat my personal fitness bests, I was naturally driven to the habit of setting goals, and I applied that same results-oriented vision to my daily professional objectives. I saw myself becoming more focused, driven, and inherently more successful in achieving my objectives.

3. Helped me to think about long-term implications

As I became more satisfied with my daily achievements, I was able to use my running time as a way to clear my thoughts and plan ahead.

Even now, by the time I reach the middle of my running circuit, my thoughts are running faster than my legs. I see my thoughts and solutions taking form in a focused and efficient manner. My brain is functioning at its sharpest, allowing me to think through and anticipating my daily challenges.

4. Helped me connect with my team

I discovered activities that encouraged bonding among my colleagues, which helped to improve both our teamwork and interpersonal relationships. Completing group fitness activities helped us get to know one another, build trust, and foster healthy competition. Most importantly, it gave us the opportunity to encourage one another to meet our individual goals.

5. Helped me keep track of my performance

It was a thrill to watch my own evolution. I could sense myself transforming as the weeks passed and noticed that as I got stronger and healthier, I became more efficient. I learned how to control my heartbeat, how many calories I burned, and made clear improvements during my weightlifting sessions.

Once I was able to produce measurable results during my sports workouts, I was able to increase my productivity and produce measurable results on the job. I had actually established a culture of positive feedback in both my work and sports routines, and I was able to track the results.

6. Helped me challenge myself regularly

I designed a mindset of challenging myself in everything I do. In each training session I tackle, every pitch I give, and every presentation I plan, I try to outperform my latest results.

7. Helped me learn how to deal with frustrations

Like everybody else, from time to time I didn't meet my goals. I actually failed miserably more than once. But then I learned with the mistakes, how to recover from the loss, and start over with renewed determination.

I learned a valuable lesson after this experience which I would like to pass on: Besides being motivated to practice sports for the sake of one's health, every professional should start a daily fitness program in order to develop a mindset on how to address everyday work challenges. Here are the steps:

1. Find an activity to love;
2. Establish a routine;
3. Acknowledge your ups and downs;
4. Work on your determination;
5. Embrace teamwork;
6. Last of all, acknowledge and celebrate your achievements.