not working? work out!

by Steve Blowers
January 2007

Being one of the many unemployed in upstate New York has helped me to understand the value of exercise on several levels. Exercise has not only provided badly needed relief from the physical and mental grind of searching for a new opportunity, it also helps me maintain a sense of balance on several levels.

First, whether it's right or wrong, a person's identity is very much tied to their job. When people meet, one of the first questions is always, 'So what do you do?' It is difficult and sometimes embarrassing to say that I am out of work, looking for a job, between opportunities… Now you can say, 'I exercise'. When questioned as to what you mean (and you will be questioned), you can say 'I am running to catch that next opportunity.' If nothing else, it will help to ease the tension and maybe allow you to move more comfortably into a regular conversation.

Secondly, the process of looking for a new position is physically demanding in different ways from what you might be used to. Sitting at a computer for long periods while you explore the many available job sites, preparing and refining resumes and cover letters, sending e-mails out to follow up on prior applications, etc., can cause pain in the shoulders and neck as well as other muscles from all of that sitting. Scheduling some stretching into your exercise routine can work wonders.

When you are unemployed, your self esteem can take quite a battering if you let it. Exercise can play a significant role in not only retaining your self esteem but even helping to grow it. That will in turn help you to maintain a positive attitude, probably the most important friend you can have. Let's say that you have sent out many resumes, followed them up, and you are getting some first interviews but nothing leading to much. You are starting to feel down and like the world is against you. This is a great time to take a stress relief break and do some exercise. Not just exercise in general, but going after something that you have wanted to do for some time. Maybe you haven't broken the 9 minute per mile time on your run, maybe there's a karate form or tai chi stance that you haven't been able to master, maybe there's a weight that you have wanted to lift. Choose now to take on the challenge. Shifting your attention will help to clear your mind, focusing on this new task. And when you nail it and hit your goal, your feeling about yourself will improve immensely. When you next return to the task of job searching, you will do so with a recent feeling of personal accomplishment that will flow into your words as you edit new resumes and create cover letters.

For years, exercise has been touted as a great reliever of stress, and I always interpreted this in relation to stress caused by work. But I have come to believe that exercise can be even more effective in relieving the stress caused by not working. If you happen to be unemployed, you can take comfort not only in the fact that you are definitely not alone, but that exercise can be a great friend in the process of re-defining yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steve Blowers is a previous contributor to Rochester Healthy Living and can be reached at sblowers1@frontiernet.net.