Copyright CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Jan/Feb 2009Study after study shows that work/life balance is key to our health and well-being. Other research indicates that stress, and hence health concerns, increase when the economy worsens.
That's why, during the last downturn - which began with the dot-com collapse and segued into post-9/11 economic uncertainty - I thought it best to focus on something other than the economy. (Being self-employed and working in a home office for 20 years, it can be all too easy to lose myself in 
CNBC and watch talking heads pontificate about the end of civilization as we know it.)
So my wife and I decided to take up skiing with our sons. It was hilarious at the beginning, since both of us had little experience and could barely get down the hill. Looking back, it was a great decision - we've adopted a lifestyle that has us skiing every weekend as soon as the snow flies up to the end of March, often with a longer ski trip worked in. One of my proudest moments came in 2005 when I stood atop a huge mountain in Switzerland and achieved my goal of skiing the Swiss Alps.
Our new focus on skiing helped balance the mental downside that came with the recession. The activity allowed us to get out, clear our heads and think about other things. It also helped me establish a great frame of mind to think about how to strategically reposition my skills, as well as my business and personal goals.
Fast-forward to 2008. The economic crisis descended upon the world in September with stunning speed, and the first reaction of many people was probably a sense of deep shock. In my own case, I spent much of September out on the road, headlining conferences. I was rapidly adapting my message to try to keep up with the fast-paced events swirling around us.
I also kept up, and actually increased, my regular series of daily walks. I walked all over Banff, Prince George, Vancouver, Las Vegas, New York and a number of other cities where I found myself on business. I've been doing this for about a year, keeping track of my progress on MapMyWalk, a site that lets you keep a cumulative log of all your walks. (If you jog, check out its close cousin, MapMyRun. You can also use the service to track other activities, including your daily workout.)
My goal is to walk at least three to four miles a day at lunchtime, following different routes through my neighbourhood or whatever city I'm in. I'm pondering keeping track of all my mileage, in order to track my equivalent distance against a map of Canada.
If you don't want as sophisticated a tool, try out the Gmaps Pedometer website. Simply type in your starting location, and zoom in. A few clicks of the mouse will trace your route and provide the total mileage of your walk or run. Or create an account at WalkjogRun, which allows you to keep track of and add up all your activities.
Eager to take it to the next step? Check out the iMapMyWaIk software for your iPhone, which integrates directly into your MapMyWalk account. Turn on the software, walk and come home - and the details of your journey will be automatically synched to your account.
These are just a few examples of the range of sophisticated fitness tools emerging online. The trend that started with the Nike/iPod running shoe will continue: we'll likely see a plethora of services that integrate various devices - whether it's a cellphone, bicycle, skis or other athletic equipment - with Web services that help you establish a daily physical regimen.
Which, given the emotional roller-coaster that a volatile stock market can bring, is probably a good thing.
ONLINE FITNESS TOOLS
Gmaps Pedometer www.gmap-pedometer.com
MapMyWalk www.mapmywalk.com
WalkJogRun www.walkjogrun.net
| [Author Affiliation] |
| Jim Carroll, FCA1 is a well-known speaker, author and columnist. Reach him at jcarroll@jimcarroll.com or log on to his website at www.jimcarroll.com |
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