In the bustle of political campaigns—both as a candidate and as campaign staff—there isn’t much time to prioritize one’s mental and physical health. But there are ways to preserve physical and mental strength while taking the political world by storm.
To kick off the new year, WPLN’s Director of Strategic Impact, Mercedes Blackwood, sat down with Susan Blanchard of Movement Pilates, Megan Assman-Kool of Mega Strong Fitness, and Julie Brake of Positive Nutrition to discuss ways to maintain a healthy work-life balance on the road. Here are some of the tips and tricks these super strong women shared to stay healthy on the campaign trail:
It might seem obvious, but women balance so many jobs in a single day that they often don’t prioritize their own health. In making sure their children are taken care of or getting to the next speaking engagement, it is easy to forget that our bodies need to be tended like gardens. It is important to set aside time where you can focus on your mental and physical health so you don’t become drained. Megan Assman-Kool suggests that working out at the beginning of your day is key. By ensuring that you have taken care of your body first, your day will be off to a great start!
Not everyone has a schedule that permits working out every morning, so it is important that you integrate exercise in your schedule so that it does not become an inconvenience. Susan Blanchard often works with flight attendants with different schedules each day. She encourages busy women that may not have the same schedule each week to adapt your workouts to fit any given day. If that means working out in ten-minute intervals throughout the day or working out for thirty minutes in the morning or night, ensure that you are getting up to some form of exercise.
As a young, single working mother, Assman-Kool found that planning her meals ahead of the work week helped her avoid forming poor eating habits. While working on a presidential campaign, she made sure to incorporate drinking water and eating as healthy as possible.
Instead of reaching for fast food because you don’t have any other option try taking time out on the weekends to grocery shop and meal prep. It will save you time in the kitchen and help you maintain a nutritious diet. Life on the road during campaigning season can be tough on the mind and body. Blanchard suggests keeping workouts and meal planning simple. If you find yourself running out of time to exercise, it could be because they are too complex. Simple stretching or taking a brisk walk are easy ways to get your exercise in quickly throughout the day.
Julie Brake of Positive Nutrition believes that making attainable goals and forming an enjoyable routine are key to staying healthy while campaigning. Instead of creating lofty, long term goals for your fitness, take one day at a time because work and home-life are demanding and require adapting on a regular basis. If you are able to craft a diet and workout routine that you enjoy, it is more likely that you will continue to make those healthy decisions in the future.
Watch the entire conversation below or on our Facebook page for all of their tips and encouragement.