One of the most successful fitness campaigns was Nike’s Just Do It. The campaign was so successful the slogan has become almost as popular as the swoosh logo itself. The motto was so simple yet emotive that it transcended age, gender, physical ability and even the world of fitness altogether.
I remember my dad using the slogan when trying to encourage me to study. But it never really worked. I did ok at school but I didn’t live up to my full potential. One of reason I underachieved at school was because I wasn’t invested in my studies. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when leaving school, therefore there was no goal or ambition to strive for. With no plan in place, studying felt like a chore. Ironically this was the best lesson I learned from school: If you don’t have a purposeful reason to do something then chances are you probably won’t do it well.
For the next few years after leaving school, I was lost. Without the school environment there was no sense of belonging, no safety net that the school environment provided me for many years. With friends moving on and with no plan or idea of what I wanted to do with myself, I felt all alone. I had gone to university but was studying a subject that wasn’t stimulating. I felt like I was drifting aimlessly through life. One summer I decided to go travelling for 6 weeks. They say travelling can broaden your mind and it certainly worked for me. I came back home with new ideas and plans. I still didn’t know what career path to follow, however, I did realise what I loved to do. And that was exercise.
I loved all types of sports as a young boy, however, I had fallen out of love of fitness in those stressful school years. So, I made a commitment to myself to exercise regularly when I returned. The first thing I did when I got back from travelling was get into running again. I still didn’t have a plan but my goal was to run every day and push my body as much as it could take. I went to the local football pitch and ran around it 5 times as fast as I could. Pushing myself further each day I managed to run around it ten times without stopping. Pushing my body further than I thought I could gave me a new brand-new lease of life. After each run I felt invigorated, my mind was clear, and I felt much more confident approaching the rest of the day and, in time, the rest of my career.
The fact that running around a field like a headless chicken somehow gave me back a sense of control of my life is hilarious. But it worked. Exercise taught me that in life you really get out whatever you put in. It felt like I had been given a fresh start; a second chance. I hadn’t exercised regularly in years, therefore, starting out was challenging. But I knew I was capable of improving if I kept at it. This paralleled with my career. I realised that if I wanted a successful career, I needed to improve my focus and work ethic.
From that moment, I approached my life with more resilience and applied effort. I have eventually found a career that is right for me but it took time. Before then, I had been bobbing along aimlessly but exercise was the lifebuoy that kept me afloat in times of trouble. And to this day it still helps me dealing with work. Whenever I am stressed or under pressure, I exercise. It releases any tension, clears my mind and I start seeing solutions to the challenges faced. Exercise to me is like a reset button. If I’ve had a bad day or felt under pressure, exercise was able to iron out any stress in my life. My mindset is reset; I have a new perspective and more energy to tackle whatever I face.
That’s the reason why I work out. Not to look skinny or lose weight, that to me is a by-product. I exercise to keep my mind clear, my focus sharp, and my confidence constant. Exercise provides so much physically and mentally. No matter what age I am or circumstance I face in life, exercise will always have the same benefits for me. And I am determined to keep it up.
Having a greater purpose to exercising is the reason I’ve had longevity in fitness. However, from time to time, I do need to remind myself of this when my motivation dips. Motivational quotes can be powerful and make us feel great. But they don’t leave that lasting effect that is needed to commit to something long term. Because sometimes just doing it just isn’t enough.
Fitness in Your 30s 