Fit to Fight
Connie Tyne

To describe the current economy as challenging may well be an understatement. Major corporations and industry giants are being shattered in an economic storm with a force and speed that still has not been measured.

The personal and professional stress corporate leaders experience gives them no option for flight, just a mandate to stand and fight. A short round can be exhilarating but a long fight requires a different strategy.

When the business environment is as difficult and uncertain as it is for many companies today, leaders must have a clear view of a very complex picture. That vision can become clouded as the body becomes exhausted. Although stress begins mentally, at the perception of a threat, it is the physical response that causes the damage. Stress triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol to prepare the body to get out of harm's way by prioritizing the systems to support survival:

Increase in heart rate and blood pressure (to shunt blood to arms and legs)
Increase in rate of breathing (to oxygenate the blood)
Increase in perspiration (to cool the body)
Increase in blood sugar (for quick energy)
Decrease in digestion (not essential for survival)
Decrease in immune functions

These changes prepare the body for fight or flight even when neither is forthcoming. It is no wonder that the long-term effects of stress are heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer.

The most effective form of stress management is daily physical activity. Whether it is purposeful or incorporated into everyday life, the body wants and needs some action during times of stress. Physical conditioning makes you more powerful mentally and physically.

Many ask how a busy professional can possibly justify taking time for him or herself? The reason is because exercise time can be healthful and productive. A CEO friend of mine described his workout time as both. Knowing that he will have 30 to 45 minutes a day away from distractions, he postpones important decisions until after his jog. While jogging, he summarizes the situation for his personal board of directors: his favorite Harvard professor, his first business mentor, and his father. He mentally lays out the facts and then imagines what comments or questions each would have. By the time he returns to the office he knows the strengths and weaknesses of the deal and is ready to confer with his colleagues and make a decision.

Taking time away from the office can also enhance your insight and clarity. Thomas Edison once said he never solved his problems in the lab but instead when he went for a walk and snacked on an apple, his creativity took over. Sometimes taking a step away from problems allows us to handle them most effectively.

Research shows that time off, particularly vacations and long weekends, refreshes the mind, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and may add as many as eight years to your life. Many executives say the hardest part is the mental decision to let themselves go. The value of a few days off to relax and regroup to prevent future problems far outweighs the cost and time of treating a condition caused by unmanaged stress.

Finally, let me share this ancient Greek wisdom: "Intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong; hardy spirits and tough minds usually inhabit the same body."

Connie Tyne, L.M.S.W., is executive director of Cooper Wellness Program. During the 4, 6, or 13-day medically-based lifestyle enhancement programs participants learn the tools necessary to improve fitness levels, eat nutritionally, lose weight, and reduce stress. For more information, call 800-444-5192 or visit www.cooperaerobics.com.

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