Health, Fitness, and Your Overall Well Being

Published in

Agilent Careers

5 min readDec 6, 2016

“Life is not merely being alive, but being well “
— Marcus Valerius Martialis

In a previous post, we talked about how having balance in your life is key to your happiness. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and put your health and fitness on the back burner. I understand making the change to live a healthier lifestyle can often be easier said than done. Many of us tell ourselves we’ll do it “next Monday, next week, next month..” etc. Sometimes, the hardest part about accomplishing something is beginning the process. Although it can often be difficult to turn our words into actions, making your health a priority is one of the best, most worth-while decisions a person can make.

What does it mean to be “healthy?”

It’s 2016, and the topic of staying healthy is prevalent now more than ever. With all fad diets, magic pills, and misleading information available, it’s easy to feel confused or lost. Unrealistic expectations can leave those eager to change hopeless when they don’t obtain the results they expected. It always seems as though we’re looking for a quick fix. The problem is ,though, is that those things simply do not work. They’re either a scam, not sustainable, or hurtful to your body in the long run. People overcomplicate things. Although “health” means different things to different people, one thing is consistent —The term “health” encompasses much more than looking good. Health is about your overall wellness, both mentally and physically. It encompasses moderation, dedication, and consistency. We’re in it for the long run, so it’s important to go into this knowing that there is no quick fix. No crazy workout plan or diet will allow you to stay healthy in the long run.

Exercise should be seen as a blessing, not a chore.

Making healthy choices helps you feel better, and the better you feel, the better you perform, and the happier you are. Through living a healthy lifestyle, you develop not only a better relationship with yourself, but with the people around you. Living a healthy lifestyle looks different for everyone. Over time, you define what “health” means to you. Once you make your health a priority, you find out what you are willing to do or give up doing in order to bring better health into your life.

Exercise is key in staying healthy!

Exercise is not only extremely beneficial for your body, but does great things for your mind as well. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, exercise is one of the treatments most recommended by health care professionals for those suffering from stress and anxiety disorders. Everyone understands the physical benefits of exercise — improvements in your physique, disease fighting capabilities, increased metabolic rate, etc. The mental aspect of exercise is often overlooked, though.

“A healthy outside starts from the inside.” — Robert Urich

A recent article from Harvard Medical School explains that “exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. It also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. Endorphins are responsible for the ‘runner’s high’ and for the feelings of relaxation and optimism that accompany many hard workouts.”

Besides typical exercises, meditation, acupuncture, massage therapy, and breathing deeply also can cause your body to produce endorphins.

Consistency breeds results

It all starts with forming the habit. There will be days when you’re not motivated and that’s totally normal! Most days, I feel the motivation once I actually enter the gym and start. Don’t start with motivation, start with doing. Consistency is key. The more consistent you are with your workout routine, the better you will feel and the more results you will see. Your workouts will become an enjoyable part of your day.

In no way is it necessary, or even healthy, to hit the gym HARD every single day without giving yourself a rest. Balancing life can feel like a juggling act at times, but it’s possible. Life doesn’t need to be lived with an “all or nothing” mentality. One part of your life shouldn’t be your whole life; there is room for anything as long as you make room. Family, work, fitness — you can find your balance. It takes time and dedication, but over time you can and will find your rythm.

Working fitness into your career

Considering that you’re probably spending a majority of your week at work, our work enviroment plays a huge role in your health. Find an employer that acknowledges and values the well being of its employees.

Agilent makes it easy for employees to stay healthy and reach their goals.

Agilent makes work-life balance a reality by encouraging employees to take time for themselves to stay active in a way that caters to their preferences. Many employees enjoy going for a walk or run, playing a sport, getting in a solo training session, or joining other employees in a group class for some added motivation. Various group classes are scheduled throughout the month including yoga, pilates, boot camp, strength training, hiit training, cardio kickboxing, zumba, ballroom dance, spin class, and even table tennis.

Personal fitness and nutrition consultation are also provided at many sites at no charge.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re new to an active lifestyle, ease into it — you don’t want to burn yourself out. Be kind to yourself, take your time, and don’t forget to have fun!

To learn more about opportunities at Agilent, check out our careers page! http://www.agilent.com/go/careers