The Athletic X Factor: Your Body and the Social Sectors

The athletic X factor to make you social sector work and life excellent
I remember well one of my first jobs in the social sector working in refugee response. It was a recent switch from my previous NGO and I was thrilled to be on the new team, ready to learn from my colleagues and increase my skills. The first week on this new mission location I noticed everyone was taking periodic breaks. This is good, staying fresh by taking quick breaks, but then I realized that everyone was behind the building (or in their offices with the windows open) smoking. During the intense times, late work sessions quickly turned into beer fueled episodes ending sloppily in bars. Weekend workdays ended in clubbing sessions. Sounds fun, right? Yes, but to a point. These people were dedicated heros but also had physically unhealthy routines ingrained in their work and life approach.  

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My social sector training comes from the international humanitarian aid world. My colleagues work in international disaster zones helping people after earthquakes, running aid operations in war zones. All of us in the social sector have our cause. This is the mission that lights us up and guides our professional and personal focus. We could talk about the details of this work all day. I’m sure you could talk about your field all night over drinks. This extreme devotion comes at a cost. The obsession can squeeze out other parts of life that make you better at your job and for the people you are serving, and better as a human being. My humanitarian aid colleagues love to throw around their devotion to the work. They’ll go anywhere, live anywhere for the cause. This social sector obsession sometimes pairs with a disregard for the body (your body) that makes all this work possible. Whether it is the sedentary nature of this modern social sector knowledge economy work or the martyr complex, it is easy for all of us to let the exercise routine go, load up on junk food and top it off with plenty of alcohol, nicotine, or other sometimes manageable addictions. 
Why does an unhealthy lifestyle sometimes ingrain itself with social sector work? The rebel mind can sometimes be seduced by substances. We are cause-driven people who will sacrifice many standard comforts for the job. We can also imagine that longer hours equals higher productivity, and sacrifice equals dedication. None of these are true with smart social sector workin habits, but the myths persist. 
Seeing yourself as your own best asset can change the way we approach our bodies in the social sector. Without health and energy our  assistance or strategic goals are irrelevant and unattainable. You are the prime asset for your social sector organization or mission. And you own yourself. You set the rules for what you eat and how you move.  While it is true that some health issues are out of our control, the big picture and the major issues are well within our reach with the right diet and exercise routine. 

How to take care of your best asset with exercise
As with many things in life, your exact exercise routine doesn’t matter, but it does matter that you choose one and design it into your life. The best way I’ve found is to choose a goal like a running or walking event, a bicycle tour or weight lifting goal and block out time from your schedule to do this exercise in preparation for your event. 
When you are designing your week and day in your social sector life, add time on your standard schedule for physical training. Build time into your day by adding it to your calendar in weekly/ monthly plans. You won’t make it every planned day, but you have a default that is adding physical training into your day. Where willpower fails, routine can survive. 
I have personally experienced social sector work with and without a standard exercise routine. Cutting out exercise starts the negative feedback cycle of lethargy that then requires longer working hour to compensate for lack of clear focus. I’ve (admittedly non-scientifically) noticed fewer colds and other sicknesses when I’m in the exercise groove. Setting up a standard physical training regimen heightens your focus when back at your work tasks, and sets you up for a good  night's sleep. This positive feedback cycle pays off with higher quality output and lower stress as well as the known long term cardiovascular rewards. 
Techniques for planning and following through
One of the best techniques for a productive workday that includes exercise, is to schedule this workout for late morning leading into your lunch break. Have your gear ready for a run, walk or calisthenics session, then eat your lunch in the last few minutes of your mid-day pause before heading back to the next focus block or set of meetings. Find like-minded people in your organization or  similar groups to help you organize and socialize the midday workout with within your organization. Make it normal, make it routine, make it fun.  Then enjoy the benefits of increased focus, heath and action channeled toward your social sector goals. 

If your supervisor or skeptical colleagues need convincing, try making the link between physical activity, alertness and better productivity at work.  There is even evidence that exercise can lead to better ideas in support of your cause. Be open about your new plans to add an exercise routine into your work day. Then, be prepared to benefit from the exercise boost in your strategic focus, impact on those your are seeking to help, and your overall happiness.

Happy Trails!