By Sheryl Hodge
Network World, 07/23/01

Exercise helps beat burnout and keeps you sane. Endorphins, released during exercise, are the body's natural antidote to stress. So don't compromise when it comes to making time for exercise.

It's simple, says Richard Malaise, IT director of the National Automobile Dealers Association, in McLean, Va. "Fitness provides a means to maintain stamina for today's extended workday. It's a means of relieving the work-related tensions we all deal with. And it can be, at times, just a lot of fun."

From early mornings to lunch hours to evenings, any time is good for fitness. Getting up at 4:30 a.m. works for Peter Nilsson, who is building a voice-over-IP network at start-up Zephion Networks, in Falls Church, Va. With a wife and four kids, and a workweek of 60+ hours, he could easily make excuses not to exercise. Instead, this triathlete heads for the gym before the sun rises on weekdays, and on weekends he squeezes in a run or a bike ride while the kids are napping.

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"It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination. As hard as it is getting up at 4:30 a.m., the body really does get used to it," he says. He finds that he wakes up at that  hour even on his mornings off.

If you're not an early riser, you can take ordinary daily tasks and turn them into mini, daily workouts. For example, park as far away from your building's front door as possible. Seems everybody always vies for that great spot up front. Little do they realize that the real gems are at the far end of the parking lot. You'll never have to fight for a parking space out there, and you'll get fitter every time you enter and exit the office.

Or, use the stairs. Not only will they get you where you need to go, they'll get you there fitter than any old elevator or escalator. And they almost never break down. Start slowly by taking the stairs down, then as your heart and muscles get stronger, head on up.

Related links

JustMove
Find out what fitness category you fall into, keep an online exercise diary and get the latest fitness news.
American Heart Association

Five Mistakes Not To Make When Starting an Exercise Program
Advice on avoiding common pitfalls and a list of calories burned by various exercises.
Heart Information Network

Self-Assessment Tools
Determine your target heart rate, discover your body mass index and more with these free tools.
CyberDiet.com

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