Working out & Career - Page 2

I work a similar schedule, and have a wife and kid at home. I am lucky enough to have a gym in the building where I work, yet I still have difficulty finding time to go. If I am traveling or entertaining clients, it's nearly a lost cause.

That said, repetition of behavior produces a habit. I found that the first two weeks of going to the gym were brutal, especially when it meant getting home late. Once I made it a regular thing, it was worse for me to not go to the gym - I was irritable and stressed. I think you'll find the same thing once you get the schedule down. Having a partner in crime forces you to actually do it.

Now that the weather is warming up and we're getting more daylight, I've been able to ride my bike some days, which is far more enjoyable than being in the gym.

I'm also speaking from experience, though my experience is a little different from yours. My university's gym is not free for faculty and the only time I can get out of the weightroom in about an hour is at 6-7am, before the students are out of bed and over-running the facilities (which they own because student fees pay for them, so it's entirely appropriate that they have free, unlimited access). I've considered joining a 24-hour gym in town, to gain convenience.

It's true that having a flexible schedule is great, but professors have 24 hours in their day just like everyone else. Scheduling flexibility often means choosing exactly when to prepare for class, write that 25 page grant proposal, write up a grad student's dissertation for publication(s), or if it's worthwhile to (a) attend 3 committee meetings and listen to colleagues drone on endlessly or (b) listen to a student explain why they missed your exam and need you to write a new one so they can make it up. If a faculty member takes the job seriously, it means 60-80 hour work weeks. That doesn't leave a lot of time for other commitments.

whacked, do you know if these professors in fantastic physical shape are also (1) married, (2) raising a family, and (3) successful in their careers? I expect they have a limited number of major commitments. I probably sound more argumentative than I intend, but if you're considering an academic career, you should know that everyone must prioritize their time. Unless they're exceptionally gifted, academics who indulge in too much "flexible scheduling" end up at the bottom of the pay scale.

I rise early (around 5 a.m.) to exercise before work. I do everything from home because it takes too much time to go to the gym.

Actually, a lot of people with busy careers can't. It's the kind of thing you can't understand unless you've lived it.

Going to the gym is just too hard when you have a family. I am single and can barely find the time. Even when you do go, it will most likely be during peak hours and everyone is going to be hogging the equipment too. I work til 2am so I go after work sometimes and there aren't many people there.

To solve my consistency issues I have brought all my weights to work (all 800 lbs of them) and I keep them under my desk. My co-worker and I lift 2 times a week together and have gotten pretty big the last 2 months. I try to work out on my own one day outside of work but it rarely happens.

2x a week is the minimum you need. I'd recommend putting weights in your garage if you can. All I have are dumbbells. You can even have your wife spot you and fuck you on your bench.

I'd second getting a small set up in your apartment or whatever. Even if you can manage 30 minutes around four times per week; it all helps. It's not much of a time commitment to rip through 30 minutes of weights or whatever then jump in the shower right after.

I also have some of those power bands or whatever they are called. They're basically just elastic bands. I bring them with me when I go up to the arctic to work. They don't take up much room and I try to make a habit of working out with them for 30 minutes everyday right when I get back to camp.

I would say 3 plus or minus 2 depending on your degree of focus and time management skills.

I work around 50 hours a week, play futsal with co-workers on weekends, run three or four times a week. I am practically married, living with my fiancee and planning a wedding. We have an upcoming company sportsfest, and I am looking into adding badminton or ultimate (frisbee) to my schedule. I think I can pull it off.

I am fortunate that I live less than a kilometer from work, and I can run either early in the morning or after work.

OTOH, last year I tried to add music study (jazz guitar) to my schedule but couldn't get in enough practice time to be able to perform at a level I was happy with, so I've put it on the back burner for now.

You are kidding right.

What job exactly do you do that allows you to bring 800 lbs of weights and workout and grunt like you are having sex.

It all depends on the individual.

I find spending 10 to 12 hours in the office is not meaningful unless its your own business and you aim to be the 2nd Donald.

Going to gym need not take up hours of your time. I did a 1 hour back thickness workout last night, which I was reluctant to go due to fatigue. But after it, I felt much better and if my plans do not work out, I intend to do a 1 hour shoulders workout tonight. If not, tomorrow night will do.

One can always short cut the workout by doing pre-exhaust techniques etc. If you need to spend 2 hours on the workout, you are spending way too much time and you need to stop chit chatting, ogling the girls in the gym.

Wake up earlier than a one year old who wakes up at 5:45 every morning? It's not that difficult - if you live in a different time zone

I don't agree. All it takes is *2* hours during a 5 day workweek and *2* hours on the weekend. OK OK add in possible driving/showering time and you end up with 6 hours a week at most, but this is still possible. My dad was an investment banker who worked from 6:30 in the morning until 6:00 at night, he also went in on saturdays. Yet he always went to all of my brother and I's hockey games AND worked out 3 days a week. If he can do it, I think most people can find a way to make it happen.

I hate when people try to argue by saying "you won't understand until you've lived it." All that says to me is, "My feelings somehow beat your logic and evidence." If what you are saying is true, than explain it.

Or maybe, most likely, "defending" yourself on some online message board just isn't a top priority. And that I understand

Understand people in Europe work productively like 8 hours a day and get out of the office on time, dont work on Sat and still do good work.

Spending time in the office productively is important. I on my part don't deal with time wasting morons like what Dilbert espounds. When I am forced to attend meaningless meetings, I bring my other work to do.

Work at a gym.

I think its possible but I certainly live a different lifestyle than most. I'm an investment banker so I work from 8 am and end anywhere between 10 pm to 4 am. As a result, I usually go to the gym (2 blocks away) for an hour and half in the evening, to get a break from work. Two and occasionally three times a week, if possible. And once or twice on the weekend. I'm not in great shape by any means but I stay healthy and it keeps my mind clear.
Then again, I'm 22 and single so I clearly have a different lifestyle than you. But as some people pointed out, twice on the weekends and twice on the weekdays will keep you on top of your game and will make you feel better about yourself.