College Sports Information Directors of America

What if I told you there was one piece of equipment that would not only make you a better at work but a better person.

No it is not some new statistics program, or website manager or way to leave your office without a cell phone.  In fact, this piece of equipment fits in the palm of your hand and anyone can use it.  What is this machine – a pedometer.

A pedometer, a gauge that monitors steps, is usually smaller than a business card and clips on your belt.  Studies show that if a person takes 10,000 steps a day they can lose weight, feel better and take steps toward a healthy lifestyle.  Just walking speeds up metabolism and lowers blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and stroke.

Most people average between 3,000 and 5,000 steps and adding steps is easier than you think.  The pedometer comes in handy as it lets you know how many more steps you need to add to your day.  Walking also is easy to fit into the hectic and busy schedules that are the norm for each of us.

So how do you get started?  Well the first thing is to buy a pedometer that will run you anywhere from $5.00 to $20.00.  In fact, some fast food chains in an effort to promote salads and menu alternatives are offering pedometers for free.

After you have the pedometer and some good shoes, wear it from the time you get up till you go to bed for one week and record your daily step totals.  At the end of the week you will know your average daily steps and what adjustments you need to make.

So how do you add steps?  This can be as easy as taking the stairs or parking a little farther from the office.  Walk that note down the hall or across campus rather than sending another e-mail.  The most effective thing is adding 30-minutes of brisk walking to your day.  This could be a walk at lunch or a couple of 10-minute walks around the building during the day will give you what you need.  In my house, my wife and I usually take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner.  This is a great way for her and I to talk while also seeing many of the neighbors.

It will take no time at all for you to notice an increase in energy, being more alert and feeling better than ever with just a few steps.  A good walk also allows you to gather your thoughts or decompress after a long day at the office.

In a business where we deal daily with young people dedicating themselves to the peak of physical condition and mental performance it is important that we continue to strive to add fitness as part of our daily routine.

All the time we hear of technology making us more productive or efficient at work and SID’s more than almost anybody else reflect that philosophy, but what each of us need to do is to use technology to improve the quality of our lives in and out of the office.

Leonard Reich is the Sports Information Director at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and in his fourth year on the CoSIDA Computer Committee.