Career and fitness?

dbkyser
dbkyser Posts: 612 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Has anyone changed careers, or taken a less paying job for the sake of fitness?
I may have a chance to get back into the finance business but it is 12+ hours a day mostly behind a desk. I am not sure its worth the extra money for what it will do to my fitness.
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Replies

  • GoodLittleEater
    GoodLittleEater Posts: 53 Member
    I highly value my quality of life over any career. That includes making sure I have time to workout! Somehow I am managing it most of the time, even though I am a full-time student with a few side jobs. Money is temporary, but how you feel about yourself is what really sticks with you!
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    I'm not sure if you're talking about a competitive Wall Street type of financial services job, but I have found the expectation is that you put in the hours and still work out. The further you get from Wall Street, both physically and philosophically, the less this applies. This is based on my observations in a Fortune 500 financial services company. You should also consider what the potential stress levels will do to your health, if 12 hour days (and weekends?) are the base expectation.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    Sounds like you answered your own question. 12 hours a day is crazy talk--I don't think it's sustainable. Your health should always be your top priority--you lose it and you will regret it.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    dbkyser wrote: »
    Most of my life I put my family and career first. Fitness was always put to the back of the line. I am seriously thinking about making the priority family and fitness, as long as I can still provide and have a life.

    I always tell people...if you don't take care of you and your health who will take care of the family when you can't...

    Make your health a priority so you can prioritize family over work.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
    I'm purposefully thinking about a job with less hours and a closer commute so that I can expand on my fitness in the future. Right now I'm at 10-11 hours a day of work plus 45 minutes driving each way. My work has natural ends though, I am a nanny and kids grow up so I will just wait it out until I can make a change.
  • youngmomtaz
    youngmomtaz Posts: 1,075 Member
    I did not switch careers but how many hours I worked specifically for my health and family. Extra hours at work and commuting meant a tired mommy who feed the kids frozen pizza and was too beat to play. Fewer hours means I actually save money on food because I have time to cook from scratch, and I can get in my workouts and save my mental and physical health.

    My health is way more important than my job! I refuse to let type 2 diabetes and heart attacks just move on in in my 40s as seems genetically programmed into my fathers side of the family. They(health issues on that scale) will have to fight to get to me!
  • megginanderson
    megginanderson Posts: 276 Member
    dbkyser wrote: »
    Has anyone changed careers, or taken a less paying job for the sake of fitness?
    I may have a chance to get back into the finance business but it is 12+ hours a day mostly behind a desk. I am not sure its worth the extra money for what it will do to my fitness.

    I actually stepped down as the president of my brick and mortar AV business to stay home with the kids and pursue a career as a health and fitness coach because i love it so much and helping others! That was 3 years ago, havent looked back since and I have replaced my income AND i work less hours! yay me:)

    I think you know in your gut what is best for you and really need to search your personal goals and priorities and aks yourself, is this going to get you closer to your goal and does this meet with your number one priority in life whatever that may be - family, faith, career etc. you know?
  • megginanderson
    megginanderson Posts: 276 Member
    mulecanter wrote: »
    Sounds like you answered your own question. 12 hours a day is crazy talk--I don't think it's sustainable. Your health should always be your top priority--you lose it and you will regret it.

    ya, burnout is eminent
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    I switched jobs where an unintended bonus was that it was easier to fit in my workouts. I definitely would NOT go back.
  • dbkyser
    dbkyser Posts: 612 Member
    Thanks everyone for the comments, I really have been doing a lot of thinking. It was this kind of career that was my excuse for all my weight gain. I have changed my life, but adding tons of hours will make it more difficult to stay on my healthy lifestyle.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    I was doing 12-14 hours a day, 6-7 days a week 2 years ago. The hourly rate was low and the high overtime was available. I was not trying to be fit at the time. Since then, I've become a mostly 40-hour guy with much lower income. But now that I'm trying to become fit I've learned that I can control my feeding needs with the food resources at work, which have improved in the course of my fitness journey. I'd rather have the chance to struggle to achieve fitness while earning enough to support my family.
  • 2011rocket3touring
    2011rocket3touring Posts: 1,346 Member
    dbkyser wrote: »
    Has anyone changed careers, or taken a less paying job for the sake of fitness?
    I may have a chance to get back into the finance business but it is 12+ hours a day mostly behind a desk. I am not sure its worth the extra money for what it will do to my fitness.

    If it pays well and you like; try getting a treadmill desk. Some of them are convertible to a standard sit down desk.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Not for fitness, but I did change career paths when my first boy was born. I'm still in fiance, but I left the CPA firm I had been with for a number of years to work in finance for a state agency. I was paid more at the CPA firm and the sky was the limit in terms of future potential...I get paid less here and the ceiling is lower...but I work pretty much 8-5 whereas I was working 10-12 hour days 6 days per week with the CPA firm...I didn't want to miss my kiddo growing up, so I made the switch for my family.
  • JodieP13
    JodieP13 Posts: 94 Member
    I have a standing desk and I am constantly moving at it. Slow butt kickers, knee lifts, etc... It really helps. Even in a 12 hour day, there is always 5-10 minutes available for a walk to keep up the activity level. For my daily workout, I just get up at 4:45am to get it in. It's hard to skip a workout when you're hardly conscious. :smiley:
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I've figured out that I don't need to change jobs/careers because of putting more of a focus on fitness. Coping skills are much better.
  • jaynee7283
    jaynee7283 Posts: 160 Member
    I would never take a pay-cut for the sake of exercising more, but you could figure out ways to get exercise in during your 12-hour workdays. Consider an adjustable desk (also known as standing desk) that will allow you to stand and move versus just sitting in a chair all day. Take the stairs whenever you have to walk between floors in the building. Park in the furthest spot away or highest deck in the parking deck and walk it. See if you can plan your work hours to allow for fitness before or after without losing out on quality of life. If you work 7a-7p, you can get up and hit the gym at 5 a.m. for a good workout, and still have your evenings with family and/or friends.
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    I work a desk job in finance as well and log at least 5-6k in steps in a day. I'm constantly back and forth between my desk and the copier or other offices.
    On those days when I've got a lot of work to do, I make a point to get up and walk around at least once an hour. I also put my keurig on the opposite end of the building lol
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    edited May 2016
    I make my time in the gym a priority and always find a way to work it around whatever job I'm in. If the job I was in made it extremely difficult, unless it was my absolute dream career I would be looking for a new one!

    Last year I changed jobs from a fairly active job with messed up shift patterns to a 9-5 desk job. I don't love the sitting down aspect as it requires more work to prevent lower back or neck problems. I do love the times though. I've always had enough sleep, and I get a regular training partner.

    Opportunities are there to work overtime but I only take it on a weekend as I'm training most weekdays. The O/T pay is very good, but I still have priorities and I would have to be pretty financially desperate to spend my evening working instead. Even then I'd probably train before work (and I hate mornings!) AND I'd be looking for a better paid job that covered my requirements without having to work over 40 hours.

    It all comes down to priorities. My main priority is being able to support myself, pay my bills/mortgage. I will not quit a job for the gym, I will just look harder for a new one. Other priorities are a job that gives me opportunity to progress financially , that I don't dread going to each day, and that also gives me a good work - life (ie: training) balance.
  • dbkyser
    dbkyser Posts: 612 Member
    I have no problem making time for the gym and exercise but if working 12+ hours and a 45 minute drive each way I will be taking away from family time one way or another.
    Its not a job where I control the flow of customers so some of these options are not possible. Like an adjustable desk.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    I prioritize quality of life. I could make a lot more money if I were willing to commute into Boston, which I am not.

    At lunch today I went for a 108 minute hike. I did yoga before work and gardened afterwards. I didn't do any of that when I had a 10 hour day with an hour commute on either end.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    It if pays well enough, you can move closer to the job.
  • dbkyser
    dbkyser Posts: 612 Member
    RodaRose wrote: »
    It if pays well enough, you can move closer to the job.

    That is a thought, but then moving son out of a small school system to a very large one. Not a good idea when he enjoys playing sports.
  • annapage38
    annapage38 Posts: 110 Member
    I'm career minded. I'm an engineer - so sitting at my desk all day. I make sure I'm active every hour and use my Fitbit to track that. I also commute 40-45 minutes each way and I still get at least an hour of exercise in a day - yesterday I was working out for over two hours. It all depends about how motivated you are to get the fitness in
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    what it will do for fitness?

    What about what it will do for your quality of life in general? Here's my thing... unless you are following a passion and doing something that fulfills you every day, i will NOT EVER give up literally half my life towards someone else's dream. We never know what's going to happen in life and i think it's important to find out happiness and joy day in and day out. This means eating the right foods, taking care of our bodies, maintaining good mental health and a positive mindset. Health is wealth.

    No amount of money is worth it to me to compromise on these values i have. I will make enough money to live, but there is no reason for me personally to kill myself for an extra paycheck. What's the point in making all that extra money when you've now compromised your happiness, have no time to use it, and are miserable all the time?

    I dont know... this is just my opinion. I would say especially this is the case since you mentioned wanting to spend time with your family. At the end of the day, you need to decide what your priorities in life are. I made my priority in life to be happy, do something that fulfills me, and to always treat my body with respect above all else so this situation wouldn't even be a question for me.
  • MorganMoreaux
    MorganMoreaux Posts: 691 Member
    dbkyser wrote: »
    Has anyone changed careers, or taken a less paying job for the sake of fitness?
    I may have a chance to get back into the finance business but it is 12+ hours a day mostly behind a desk. I am not sure its worth the extra money for what it will do to my fitness.

    I took a much lower paying job to get out from behind a desk. I'm on my feet moving around at least half the day. I went from software developer to print production, and have to say I love the activity and feel so much healthier and enjoy that it's not a stressful position, but don't like the pay. Outside of the medical profession, I'm not certain I can find a job that pays what I'm accustomed to that ha any activity. It's a trade off and I haven't made up my mind yet on which I prefer. Money buys freedom but so does good health.

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