Our present time, even with all its shortcomings, is mindboggling outstanding: more people on the planet can live better, healthier, and longer than any other time in history. The vehicle you have to move you around this quality life is your body and you must care for it to maintain a long, productive life. If your body goes, it becomes increasingly more difficult to think, create, and dive into new endeavors that enhance your own life and the people around you. For that reason, I consider this section one of the most important.
I’m not a natural athlete and literally stayed as far away from exercise as humanly possible until my 30s. As a kid, I hated sports. I had terrible hand-eye coordination. For team sports, like soccer and baseball, I got nervous and made mistakes. Gym class was even worse being slow, awkward, and weak. On sports day, I got the puke-green ribbon for “good sportsmanship.”
When I was in my mid-30s, I had started to budge a bit around my mid-drift, i.e., I was fat. I didn't think anything of it, as appearance was unimportant to me. However, I had just started a new job in sales. Energy, mental toughness, and appearance were all important in the job and the management team thought wellness was important. As a manager, I needed to lead by example, so I started running.
My first day out, I jogged five minutes, walked five, and finished with a plodding five minute jog before collapsing on our living-room floor—pale and exhausted, but happy. I found running suited me as coordination and teams didn't matter. I just needed persistent, consistent, practice. Now I run marathons and ultra-marathons for the sheer joy of it—much to the surprise of those who knew me growing up—including myself.
I tell this story because I believe that if I can do it, literally anyone can do it. I believe that consistent exercise will greatly boost your energy and ideas available to you. Elevating your heart rate for 20-25 minutes for a minimum three times a week, and preferably five times a week will help you strengthen your heart and sleep better at night. Try many exercise until you find something that interests you. For me, it turned out to be running, karate, and yoga. You might try to find a group or may wish to go it alone. Try walking—absolutely one of the best ways for your mind and body, which is why I devote a section to it. Or if you prefer, wall climbing, jumping rope, salsa dancing, weight lifting, biking, Pilates, hip-hop dancing, elliptical or rowing machines, or a brisk hike. Aerobic exercise gets oxygen to your brain, making you think better. It also builds endorphins, a naturally high, making you more happy. You need not compete nor ever be a superstar athlete. What I'm advocating is good maintenance of your health that helps you create and enjoy your life for as long as possible.
Try this: Go on a brisk fifteen minute walk, three times this week.