Making a big career move? Moving to a new city? Exercising can help you do it better.
In less than two months, I created my own digital portfolio, landed a job in a new city that pays twice as much as my current one, established a professional mentor, remotely & successfully found a new place to live-- in a city where I know absolutely no one, and made a couple hundred bucks selling my stuff to prepare for my move. Did I mention I'm still working full-time? It's been the busiest, most stressful month of my life. I owe my success and my sanity to my commitment to stay active throughout it all.
Every single day, I've found a way to break a sweat. Some days, it was for less than ten minutes, and most days, it was outside of the gym. Between a full day of work and three hours every night typing out cover letters, I would go for a run, bike to work instead of driving, wake up fifteen minutes early to do yoga, etc..
Here's why you should do the same:
1. You'll boost your energy levels naturally.
If you're like me, you can't afford to quit your day job while you make your big move. So instead of having evenings to wind down from a long day at work, you're going to be right back at it, rewriting your cover letter, designing your new website or skyping with potential roommates. Taking small breaks to get your heart rate up and a little sweat will give you a bigger jolt than a double-shot espresso.
2. You'll have a healthy way to blow off steam.
Transitions are stressful and uncomfortable, and when you make a big move, it might feel like everything is falling apart before you see the light at the other side of the tunnel. Exercising is your way to release that and fill up on endorphins. Putting a literal weight on your shoulders will help you let go of the metaphorical ones. It's fortunate that I have a space to move in my own backyard, because sometimes I look absolutely ridiculous doing my own pseudo version of kickboxing. But it helps me to throw those punches on overwhelming days.
3. You're choosing a healthy vice, not a destructive one.
It doesn't matter how long I've been a non-smoker (a year and a half), when I get super stressed, smoking is always a temptation and probably always will be. Drinking alcohol is right up there too. Being active is my route through those temptations and it's made me a mentally stronger person to be able to face big changes and transitions without worrying that I'll revert back to bad habits.
4. You'll be a nicer, happier person, and that's going to help more than science can explain.
When most people undergo periods of intense stress, they get cranky, stubborn and unpleasant to be around. I am one of them. Exercising is going to make you happier, it's proven, and when you're happy, it makes people want to help you, not avoid you. (My theory.) Do you ever meet someone and it just seems like the universe is on their side? I have never been that person until these last few months.
I landed the first job I interviewed for. I got my top choice for an apartment in Portland. Things like that almost never happen to me and they happened because I've been able to retain my happiness throughout all the stress of my big move. It's taken so much support from my own social circles and from complete strangers to make everything happen, but everything fell in to place when I started meeting each challenge with optimism. I rediscover that positivity every time I go for a run or jam out to music while I do jumping jacks in my backyard.
Navigate tough choices with a clearer head. Turn complete strangers into genuine connections you can lean on. Move your body the way it was intended to move. Take a break from that big project and get up out of your chair. You don't need a gym membership. You don't need any equipment. Just move.
