I really hate working out. It is far too easy to kick my shoes off and watch a show or enjoy a hobby in my hotel room instead of taking the time to hit the gym or go for a walk. And yet, fitness is absolutely one of the most important things with which to keep up while out on the road. This holds particularly true for my fellow crew members who need to renew medical certificates. So, I’ve compiled a few ways that help encourage me to get out and be active.
Mindset
This is starting to be a common thread in my writing so far but it's because it's the key to making changes, so let’s start with mindset. There's a certain degree of discipline required to take the time for the gym out on trips because flying can be pretty exhausting sometimes. I used to motivate myself with fear and just told myself that I'd lose my medical if I didn't stay in shape, but that's not exactly the most positive way of thinking. I started thinking about how working out equals good health and how good health equals a better life. I also tell myself that if I’m working out on a trip, in a way I’m sorta getting paid to work out. I find this to be more positive, and it helps keep me honest.
Keep it Simple
As far as actually being physical, I try to keep things simple as far as what I do to stay in shape. The simpler I keep my routine, the more likely I am to stick to it. Again, this is more of a mental game that keeps me motivated because I don’t like working out. If the weather isn’t great for walking around or there’s nothing to see in the overnight location, my backup is always the hotel gym. I don’t force myself to stay for a super long time; I try to go for about 30 minutes. For me this is a reasonable amount of time that doesn’t feel intimidating, but don’t feel bad if you can only do 10 to 15 minutes to start with. Start there, and build up the amount of time you work out as your comfort level increases. The key is not to force yourself to stay for a really long time because you’ll be less likely to actually follow through.
Other Options
My favorite form of exercise on overnights is a walk around the local area. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, and taking in the sights in a new area is always a lot of fun and helps to make the most out of the job. My other favorite thing to do is just walk the airport. Because I commute, I usually get to the airport well before my trips start. We also sometimes have long periods of time between flights. I'll usually just leave my stuff in the plane or the crew room if there is one and walk the whole airport.
I once flew with a captain that had a jump rope in his bag. This is brilliant because it’s a super easy way to get in a little bit of cardio right from your hotel room. Well, maybe it's not that easy but even just a few minutes daily has been shown to have wonderful benefits. It's great for the super short overnights where there may not be enough time to go to the gym, or on the off chance there isn’t even a gym at the hotel.
Back in college, I worked at Target for a few years. One day I had a lady come in that I helped, and somehow it came up that she was like 92. I couldn't believe it; she looked like she was maybe in her 50s but moved like she was even younger than that. I asked her what her secret was and she said she danced. So I guess that's another option if you like dancing! I've never forgotten that conversation.
Whatever you decide to do though, take that 15 or 30 minutes to do something active! Your future self will thank you.
Notes
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