Balancing fitness with a full-time consulting career isn’t always easy with early mornings, packed schedules and client deadlines. But over the years, I’ve realised that fitness doesn’t just fit around my work life, it actually makes me better at it!
Here are three ways staying active has helped me show up stronger as a consultant:
- Discipline Builds Detail
Waking up early, planning meals, sticking to a training routine, prioritising sleep all takes discipline. Let’s take running for example (my current obsession). This week I have three runs, all of which will take at least an hour, and even more when you factor in warm up, cool down and stretching (don’t skip these!). So there’s the training itself which can be tough depending on the run, but then there’s things like making sure I’m eating enough calories post run, drinking enough water and doing gym work to avoid getting injured.
To be able to do all this (and do it well), I need structure and routine. But that same structure helps me stay sharp at work too. Fitness has taught me how to build good habits that build momentum, be consistent and stay focused on the small stuff. That attention to detail? It doesn’t turn off when I switch from running shoes to a slide deck. It carries through everything I do. - 1% Better, Always
In the gym or on a run, progress comes in small wins i.e. lifting slightly heavier, running slightly longer or faster, just pushing a little more. Sometimes its just getting through a particular challenging workout! Importantly, I always reflect on what I did well and what could be improved, usually at the end of the week.
I’ve taken this mindset into my career: show up, stretch yourself and aim to be 1% better every week. Whether it’s meeting someone new for coffee, taking the lead on a particular piece of work or having a challenging conversation it’s not about huge leaps; it’s about sustainable growth. Just as increasing your weekly running milage by more than 20% could lead lead to injury, taking on too much at work at once is a recipe for burnout. And as James Clear explores in Atomic Habits, it’s not drastic changes but small tiny improvements built over time. And that’s exactly how I approach my professional and personal development. Small wins > massive leaps. - Time is a Skill
Balancing work, workouts, relationships and rest? It’s forced me to get really good at managing time. Because I value fitness and my career, I’ve had to become more intentional with how I structure my days.
For me, this means blocking out early mornings for exercise before work (in case I need to work later in the evening or if I have plans with friends), which means I’m usually asleep by 10pm. It also means that I can’t really afford to waste time on Instagram and TikTok – which is why I don’t have these apps on my phone at the moment. Similarly, it makes me less inclined to drink alcohol during the week – because it impacts my ability to sleep and perform (both at work and when working out).
Having health and fitness related goals has helped me stay focused, prioritise what matters and meet frequent deadlines without losing my mind. Fitness taught me that time management is something you train, just like muscles.
Final Thought
Fitness doesn’t take away from my work, it enhances it. The structure, mindset, and resilience I build through training show up in how I lead, solve problems and grow in my role. Not to mention, I benefit from a daily dosage of endorphins, which honestly fires me up more than my daily coffee! If anything, fitness it’s my not-so-secret advantage.
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