I was thrilled when my company announced the start of a corporate wellness program.
When I initially graduated from school, I was in peak physical shape.
I often went for a run at the end of the day. Sometimes, I’d ride my bike to the office. I was constantly playing tennis, hiking, swimming and paddling my kayak. For several years, I joined a beer league softball team and played games on weekends. Unfortunately, the requirements of the job eventually changed my focus. I was hopeful for a promotion and felt the need to take on a larger workload. I no longer made physical activities a priority. Working so many hours, I felt exhausted all the time. I lacked the energy to workout, and there wasn’t enough time to participate in any athletic hobbies. I wasn’t as conscientious about eating healthy. Since I was always in a hurry, I was grabbing fast food and eating in the car most of the time. I started drinking more and more coffee, and I was struggling to fall asleep at night. I put on weight and started experiencing all sorts of aches and pains. My neck and shoulders were frequently painful by the conclusion of the workday. I started having issues with tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and headaches. I wasn’t aware that my mood had deteriorated. It wasn’t until I began regularly working out again that I realized how unhappy I had been. The corporate wellness program offers a free local gym membership. I have access to a personal trainer and meetings with a nutritionist. I set the alarm a little earlier in the morning and am allowed to start the workday a little later. This gives me the opportunity to get in a strenuous workout. I’ve dropped the weight, gained muscle tone and improved stamina. I have found that I have more energy. I’m also more productive at my job. Even better, I enjoy a more positive outlook when I get up in the morning. I feel healthy and strong.