Workplace Fitness: Ways to help your career that you might not expect

When people think of boosting their career, things like working late at the office and getting lots of "face time" with the boss usually come to mind. But in reality being successful, at anything, means taking care of yourself. Stress and a busy schedule can cause you to fall into bad habits and inadvertently sabotage yourself and your career. If you're not getting enough sleep, or you're eating the wrong foods or hitting "happy hour" a little too often, how are you supposed to be your best at work? And if you're not at your best, there's the risk that "coworker Bob" will be, and you just might be overshadowed and outperformed.

Nobody wants to be less than their best, especially in the competitive world of today's workplace. So to get ahead, or stay ahead, it might be worthwhile to take a look at your priorities, and these suggestions for success, that although are common enough may not be your first thoughts regarding benefiting your career:

• Fitness. It's important for every aspect of your life, from having energy for your family to having energy for your work, to just being healthier and living longer. And make sure you're not stuck in a rut, doing the same workout routine you've always done.
• Nutrition. It is sooooooo easy to lose willpower and indulge after a hard day's work, or simply to over-snack on whatever is handy when you're stuck working through lunch. Keeping healthy snacks in your desk and making healthy eating a priority will make a difference in how you feel and how well you do your job.
• Relationships. Spending time with the people you love seems to be one of the first things to suffer when life demands too much, but you won't get far in life without their support and that all-important connection to others.
• Health. This is different from fitness, even though they obviously go hand in hand. The idea here is that you don't neglect things like routine physicals, recommended screenings, and other easily put-off appointments. They just might save your life.

This stuff seems really basic to me, but it makes a lot of sense too. It's really about making your life a priority, and then your work and future will fall into line.