If you can’t work, work out

Are you still looking for a job in retail but haven’t found the right one yet? Make sure you don’t become complacent on the couch, get up and work out. Even if you just do a 15 minute warm up every day sticking to a schedule will help keep you on your feet for when you start back to work. The endorphins your body produces will keep you healthy and fend off other ailments like depression.

If you have a game system in your home you pretty much have a personal trainer available to you whenever necessary at no extra charge. Even if you don’t, you can find all sorts exercise programs on cable or the internet. You can even make up your own routine doing something as simple as dancing or marching for a set amount of time. Maybe you’d rather do reps, it doesn’t matter. Just set a time and do it.

If you want to maximize the benefit of working out, step outside of simply the scheduling aspect and try to make it more social. Work out with a friend, join a gym, or find a running/biking/bowling group you enjoy getting together with and network while you work out. If you live in an apartment community then you likely have access to a free facility. If you don’t maybe you know someone who does and you just need to ask around. City funded Recreation centers can be a low cost option as well.

In your job search, do you have an idea of the area of town where you would most want to work? Try to find a gym close by. Likely local employees and business owners will seek out fitness centers with convenient locations for winding up the workday. You can make connections after cardio or get a step ahead in step class. Even if you’re not comfortable engaging in shameless self promotion, it’s easy to overhear candid conversations about places you may or subsequently may not want to work.

Needless to say countless studies have shown hiring managers lean towards candidates who excel viscerally over vocationally when it comes down to it. Keeping in shape will keep you ahead in the running for the position of your choice.

By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for RetailGigsBlog.com, she is co-founder of design and promotion company, Creative Kazoo with fellow Nexxt blogger, Staci Dennis. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.