What Does A “Seasoned Executive” Have To Do These Days To Get A Job? Tip 3 of 6

3.  Keep Moving!

It’s one thing to stop and take breaks throughout a busy, productive day. But beware of the Sit, Stare and Sink mode. JUST SAY NO to that urge to sit down, perhaps in front of the TV, casually turning it on “just to catch the news”…..then you suddenly drift off course…just a little… staring at the TV, leaning back, and before long you are sinking into the couch, flipping channels, and now an hour has gone by, maybe two, and you are staring at senseless programming, sinking into a funk and loosing motivation altogether. 

The dangerous thing about it is threefold.  First, it’s emotionally unhealthy.  Stagnancy causes you to drift into a state of mind that can lead you into a very negative, destructive thought process.  Sure we’d like to believe that just sitting there will inspire you to come up with a great idea, but it really doesn’t work that way.  Maybe it doesn’t happen instantly, but eventually it does happen….you may start rethinking past conversations and experiences. Poking holes in them and questioning your own value. Just think of how far back you could dredge up past events from and re-write them in your mind if you spent hours each day dwelling on it?  All that does, is sour your attitude, and hold you back from future success. 

Secondly, it is immensely counterproductive.  Sitting there simply shuts off your brain. Stimulation is what generates brain activity, creativity, inspiration and positive energy.  You need to feed your brain to muster up the gumption to be at your best out there in the job search day after day.  Every minute you just sit there, you are not working towards your goals.

Third, (and this may be the most important one to pay attention to) it’s physically unhealthy, period. Don’t even try to argue it. Calories don’t burn on their own. Fit people move.  Studies have been done proving that people who spend more than 60 minutes a day just sitting are less healthy.  The moment you are sitting down your leg muscle electro-functions shut off.  You stop burning calories and your fat burning enzymes drop 90%.  Three hours of sitting a day makes a person 64% more likely to die of heart disease. Mayo studies have linked sitting for long periods of time with obesity and metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels, as well as increase risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

So are you going to get on that couch today?

NO!  It’s critical to keep moving throughout the day.  Avoid places you are prone to Sit Stare and Sink into.  Follow your list.  Give yourself a time line for tasks, breaks, and anything additional you discover needs to happen that’s not already on the days’ list.  Conduct your calls standing.  If you just need a “time out”, pick up the broom, or a shovel, or a rag and clean something as you space out.  Just don’t sit there.  Feed your mind and body with good healthy energy.  Keep moving!