Great Open House of SCE with Jason Jani, Mike Walter, Marcello Pedalino
Productivity means managing your energy – music accelerates that!
Clients, friends and family often ask me ‘how do you stay so energized’? They also often ask…are you always like this? My reply ‘yes, my poor husband! ‘
Like all of you reading this, we have crazy busy lives and one of the most important activities we can do to boost our energy is to exercise – OK I heard you all groan!
This is not a blog about how to exercise because honestly… it is absolutely NOT my favorite thing to do BUT I have learned a few ways to make it more fun and hope some of these might inspire you to increase your energy too.
Hire a trainer – I know… it costs money AND it is worth every cent! The high level of accountability and having to show up is reason enough. Big shout out to my trainer Ed at Fitness Together who makes me work harder than I even think possible! If you can’t afford a trainer, recruit a buddy to kick your butt and work-out together! If you want to increase your accountability share it online like my friend Cynthia who has shared her fitness journey with us all – inspirational!
Play groovy running music – this is really the trick behind my treadmill time. I don’t love the treadmill, truthfully I think it is silly to walk inside when I live in such a pretty area however I choose it (because of air conditioning) and I don’t want my neighbors to be subjected to my off-key singing. Yep you read it right. My husband begs me not to sing when I am out and about (let’s just say he is being kind and hoping to prevent my embarrassment). He also doesn’t enjoy it when I bop around the house with my iPod on singing at the top of my voice… or singing when we are in the car together – ah well!
Create a 30-minute playlist – this has been key for me! I have a list that allows 30 minutes work-out and a cool down, to my favorite boppy songs (email me if you want the list neen@neenjames.com). Some of these were inspired by one of my fave award-winning entertainers Marcello! Check out his list of great workout music here.
Visualize your own fabulousness – while signing out loud (way too loud according to my honey) and bopping on the treadmill (my stylish fabulous friend Meg says I don’t walk on the treadmill …I bop) – I picture myself acting out the songs.
Is that crazy? I was the little girl who sang Abba songs into her hairbrush! I know it sounds crazy but when I hear California girls by Katy Perry I imagine my friends and I in laughing and walking along Santa Monica Pier; ,when I hear Party Rock Anthem I imagine a room filled with people, great lights, my cool friends – DJ extraordinaires Jason Jani and Marcello Pedalino spinning the tunes on stage I am bopping on the dance floor – admitting all this to you all might affirm for you all what a crazy place my imagination is – ha ha~ insane maybe – visualizing yourself having fun instead of the boring treadmill is far more fun don’t you think? Your imagination can take you anywhere!
So that’s some ways I make exercise more fun – what you do to make your re-energizing time more fun – love to hear your thoughts on our blog.
Hmmm… what music should I listen to next ?
PS. Did you know we now have our eBooks available – if you want to check out some fun productive reading for the summer – click here.
Hey Neen!
Thanks for the kind call out. I have found listening to music to make a huge difference in my energy while working out. When I first started, I tried to double-dip the time by listening to people speak. While often interesting, didn’t give me the beat to move to.
Now I periodically reward my workout commitment with new music. It makes me smile – and sweat more!
You are looking fabulous my friend! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Cynthia
G’Day Cynthia,
I love the idea of music being a reward – hmm I can see myself searching iTunes for the next additions! Thanks for your kind comments and I really appreciated what you said about listening to people speak, I can only seem to listen to people speak if I am driving – it doesn’t help me when I am working out.
G’Day Gorgeous!
Thanks for the mention Neen. 🙂
You hit on 3 main components. 1) An accountability partner: (someone who will call you if you don’t show up + someone who will motivate you to stay there when you are there). 2) Having Fun: Singing or “bopping along” to your favorite cuts while breaking a sweat…. even if it’s off-key or off-beat. 3) Hire a pro: A trainer will ensure that not only are you doing the right exercises, but they’ll make sure you’re doing them the right way.
Health and happiness!
M
G’Day Marcello,
Always a pleasure to share your brilliance. Today I was writing my latest book and the chapter on accountability and I know this is something that you talk about – accountability shows high integrity – something you demonstrate. Yes my singing is very off-key – just ask Andy!
Neen as a DJ and runner I completely agree that music is essential to a great workout and helping me relax. I’ve got playlists set up on my iPhone for casual runs, hard workouts, times when I want focus on other things and also times when I just wanna reminisce and have some fun. We all have songs that change our moods and with technology nowadays it’s never been easier to have those songs at our fingertips.
Mike – you are so right! Music has the power to take us back to memories, increase our performance and also calm our spirits – the role you play in people’s lives with the music you choose for their special occasions will impact them for so many years to come! Thanks for sharing.
G’Day Neen!
Great post! Music definately has healing power. Many articles of course written on how your favorite tunes reduce stress. I’d love to know what those Olympic athletes are listening to right before they take to their center stage. Hmmm… Maybe a little “Gonna Fly Now – Theme from Rocky”?
I love my XM/Sirus radio playing in the background at ‘world headquarters’ . 70’s and disco!
You know gorgeous I can see you bopping to that disco music with your amazing hair bouncing around and the whole room following your lead – that is why you are the Queen DJ in Vegas baby!