Sports is serious business

Communicators need a fitness bug not just a band!

My previous article dwelled upon the serious engineering element we all have in ourselves & as engineers to be able to see the macro and micro picture at the same time. 

This one is more around ‘Wellness’. Survey after survey has highlighted communicators and journalist alike not only  have one of the most stressful jobs, but they also pass away early on in life. Multiple reasons and factors can be pointed out to this.

Couple of years back, post a press conference, 6 years ago, I was breathless after climbing a flight of stairs. A journalist saw me catching my breath and cautioned to take care. Well, there it was – the warning sign!

So here is what I went about doing for the past few years, and no, I don’t recommended you turning into a Gym addict, but perhaps having a positive body image might help in the long run.

1. Start early : My alarm wakes me up mostly at 4.30 and a banana later, I am out of the house. Come to think of it, if we work with most CXOs, they are also early risers and have similar routines. Essentially you get to be more productive by getting up early.
2. Warm up: Most folks like to go on brisk walks and quick sprints. It is important that you do a few stretch exercises before you work out. Those easy solvable emails you get are stretch exercises before you get to the essentials and tough negotiations and issues you want to solve.
3. Wolves hunt in packs: Just like animals, any active lifestyle is a group activity. It can range from playing badminton to running. Find a group and be a team player by showing up. You will relate to a fellow enthusiast for sure. Communications and working in organisations is also a team sport. We have to play, defend and go on offensive based on situation and the dynamics demand every individual has something to contribute.
4. Challenge yourself: Did you do a 5k last year? Well you can now do a 10k, a 15k, a 21k or run a complete marathon. Participation is more important at times than winning. You do get a medal too. But the sense of achievement that something you did for yourself is undeniable.

Sports goods and athleisure market are also making huge inroads into Indian fitness habits. According to some estimates, it is growing 20-25% year on year. Indians are more aware today about fitness thanks to celebrities, social media and peers. Everyone today wants to be body positive in the physical and mental sense.

A sad fact of life remains, most people nowadays are having High BP, suffering Heart Attacks or Anxiety attacks thanks to their work life imbalance and sedentary habits.A recent report highlighted prevalence of heart related disease has increased by over 50% from 1990 to 2016. A few peers in the industry have also passed away at a young age. If there is something certain in life, fact that life is uncertain. We all need to take care. 

So dust up your sports shoes and form a healthy habit!

Sanaj Natarajan

Sanaj Natarajan is a Corporate Communications Leader with experience in Capital Goods and Technology industry. In a career spanning over 14 years as a communicator, he has worked on campaigns around External Communications, Investor relations and Greenfield and Brownfield sites.
Sanaj loves to read on current affairs, technology magazines and travel to different places and absorb cultures and relish various cuisines. In his free time, he dabbles in video production, film making and running marathons.