New Year's Resolution ... For Political Candidates
If you're a political candidate looking to do well in 2006, your New Year's Resolution probably isn't to get into better physical condition ... but maybe it should be.
That's because political campaigns are marathons of emotional stress and physical demands. Sure, character and vision are vital, but so are energy and endurance. More and more, the term "run" for office has taken on a more literal meaning.
In a typical day, a political candidate may knock on hundreds of doors, ask dozens of people for money, and give several speeches. Any candidate with the energy to endure all this -- and ask for more -- has a tremendous advantage over a less active foe.
In terms of the rigor, modern-day campaigning is a task nearly as well suited for Lance Armstrong as it is for his fellow biker, George W. Bush.
Making matters worse, the campaign lifestyle is not conducive to creating a healthy environment. Breakfast meetings with staff, early lunches with civic groups, late lunches with politicians, fundraising dinners, and stress -- all make it difficult for a candidate to stay in shape. Not only do candidates not lose weight during a campaign, most candidates gain weight.
So, if you're planning on running for political office in the New Year, how can you prepare for this campaign marathon?
Before running for office, a candidate should be in shape physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Once the campaign starts, it's too late to start thinking about making any personal changes. It's important that candidates are motivated to prepare themselves before they run.
Here is some motivation for you to stick with this New Year's Resolution:
In Politics, Appearance Matters. Studies show most people judge us visually. Candidates who look "in shape" appear to be more in control. Think of it this way: Who was the last obese President of the U.S.? Taft? The truth is that candidates who are in good physical condition demonstrate to voters that they are in control and disciplined.
An Active Image Sells. The best political candidates assiduously cultivate an active image. They are often pictured jogging, playing touch football, or riding a bike. Voters want to elect public servants who will have the energy to tackle problems. Get a reputation for being active and energetic. Voters believe that an active leader will use that same energy to tackle their problems.
Exercise Increases Memory: The best candidates have the uncanny ability to remember speeches, statistics, faces, and names. According to researchers at the University of Dundee in Scotland, just taking a ten minute walk dramatically increased a person's memory during testing. Maintaining a well-balanced diet is essential for your brain and memory. Additionally, cardiovascular exercise has been proven to prevent memory loss.
Health is an Issue. For some candidates, losing weight means more than just looking good. After being diagnosed with type-II diabetes, Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AL) lost over 100 pounds in a year. Governor Huckabee needed to lose weight, not just for his career, but for his life.
Additionally, at the higher echelons of political office, health is a legitimate campaign issue.
Most experts agree JFK's Addison's disease would have disqualified him from being President if it were known. And even in modern times, Vice President Dick Cheney has had to answer questions regarding his health after suffering a heart attack.
Stress Relief: Campaigns are stressful, yet a candidate needs to appear confident and relaxed. So how do you get rid of that stress? There are many benefits to exercise, explains Colin Shah, a personal trainer and owner of SomaFit in Washington, DC (he has trained several politicians and a Cabinet member.) According to Shah, exercise "greatly reduces levels of stress, increases endurance for those late nights on the campaign trail, and keeps them fit for in front of the TV camera."
Execution of Campaign Tactics: Candidates who are in shape can sometimes simply out-work their older or less energetic opponents. Whether it's at the local level and you are going door-to-door at a faster rate than your opponent, or whether it's your ability to travel to more places in a shorter amount of time, endurance on the campaign train can make the difference.
Networking: A lot of political relationships have been cultivated at a local bar, but more and more, networking is occurring at the local gym. As columnist David Broder wrote in December of 2005, "Steve Israel, a Democrat from Long Island, and Tim Johnson, a Republican from central Illinois, are fellow members of the Class of 2000 who became acquainted on treadmills in the House gym. Beyond their exercise, they seemingly had little in common ... Their conversation became the spur for the formation earlier this year of what they call the Center Aisle Caucus, a forum for communication across party lines."
Once you've decided to keep your New Year's Resolution, here are some quick tips to help you stick with it:
Schedule it: Put exercise on the schedule. With busy candidates, if you don't schedule it, it won't happen.
Multi-Task: The best candidates hate to waste time. Find ways to kill two birds with one stone. If you are a news junkie, set up a TV in front of a treadmill. Do whatever it takes to make getting in shape fun.
Persistence: Remember, nothing happens over night. Just like in politics, persistence pays off.
Prepare to Win: I got this tip from Governor Huckabee of Arkansas: Bring your own food every where you go. This way, you will always have something to eat -- no matter what is served. If someone is holding a fundraising event for you, request a healthy meal in advance. Don't eat just because it's expected of you.
Diversify: Work in exercises you enjoy. Some candidates like to play tennis, others like to ride bikes. If you enjoy it, you'll stick with it. Either way, start slow. Trying to do too much too fast only leads to burn-out our injury.
If you follow this advice, I believe you will enter your political campaign in fighting shape. You will be sharper, more focused, and more energetic. Good luck to you as you prepare to run the race of your life!
That's because political campaigns are marathons of emotional stress and physical demands. Sure, character and vision are vital, but so are energy and endurance. More and more, the term "run" for office has taken on a more literal meaning.
In a typical day, a political candidate may knock on hundreds of doors, ask dozens of people for money, and give several speeches. Any candidate with the energy to endure all this -- and ask for more -- has a tremendous advantage over a less active foe.
In terms of the rigor, modern-day campaigning is a task nearly as well suited for Lance Armstrong as it is for his fellow biker, George W. Bush.
Making matters worse, the campaign lifestyle is not conducive to creating a healthy environment. Breakfast meetings with staff, early lunches with civic groups, late lunches with politicians, fundraising dinners, and stress -- all make it difficult for a candidate to stay in shape. Not only do candidates not lose weight during a campaign, most candidates gain weight.
So, if you're planning on running for political office in the New Year, how can you prepare for this campaign marathon?
Before running for office, a candidate should be in shape physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Once the campaign starts, it's too late to start thinking about making any personal changes. It's important that candidates are motivated to prepare themselves before they run.
Here is some motivation for you to stick with this New Year's Resolution:
In Politics, Appearance Matters. Studies show most people judge us visually. Candidates who look "in shape" appear to be more in control. Think of it this way: Who was the last obese President of the U.S.? Taft? The truth is that candidates who are in good physical condition demonstrate to voters that they are in control and disciplined.
An Active Image Sells. The best political candidates assiduously cultivate an active image. They are often pictured jogging, playing touch football, or riding a bike. Voters want to elect public servants who will have the energy to tackle problems. Get a reputation for being active and energetic. Voters believe that an active leader will use that same energy to tackle their problems.
Exercise Increases Memory: The best candidates have the uncanny ability to remember speeches, statistics, faces, and names. According to researchers at the University of Dundee in Scotland, just taking a ten minute walk dramatically increased a person's memory during testing. Maintaining a well-balanced diet is essential for your brain and memory. Additionally, cardiovascular exercise has been proven to prevent memory loss.
Health is an Issue. For some candidates, losing weight means more than just looking good. After being diagnosed with type-II diabetes, Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AL) lost over 100 pounds in a year. Governor Huckabee needed to lose weight, not just for his career, but for his life.
Additionally, at the higher echelons of political office, health is a legitimate campaign issue.
Most experts agree JFK's Addison's disease would have disqualified him from being President if it were known. And even in modern times, Vice President Dick Cheney has had to answer questions regarding his health after suffering a heart attack.
Stress Relief: Campaigns are stressful, yet a candidate needs to appear confident and relaxed. So how do you get rid of that stress? There are many benefits to exercise, explains Colin Shah, a personal trainer and owner of SomaFit in Washington, DC (he has trained several politicians and a Cabinet member.) According to Shah, exercise "greatly reduces levels of stress, increases endurance for those late nights on the campaign trail, and keeps them fit for in front of the TV camera."
Execution of Campaign Tactics: Candidates who are in shape can sometimes simply out-work their older or less energetic opponents. Whether it's at the local level and you are going door-to-door at a faster rate than your opponent, or whether it's your ability to travel to more places in a shorter amount of time, endurance on the campaign train can make the difference.
Networking: A lot of political relationships have been cultivated at a local bar, but more and more, networking is occurring at the local gym. As columnist David Broder wrote in December of 2005, "Steve Israel, a Democrat from Long Island, and Tim Johnson, a Republican from central Illinois, are fellow members of the Class of 2000 who became acquainted on treadmills in the House gym. Beyond their exercise, they seemingly had little in common ... Their conversation became the spur for the formation earlier this year of what they call the Center Aisle Caucus, a forum for communication across party lines."
Once you've decided to keep your New Year's Resolution, here are some quick tips to help you stick with it:
Schedule it: Put exercise on the schedule. With busy candidates, if you don't schedule it, it won't happen.
Multi-Task: The best candidates hate to waste time. Find ways to kill two birds with one stone. If you are a news junkie, set up a TV in front of a treadmill. Do whatever it takes to make getting in shape fun.
Persistence: Remember, nothing happens over night. Just like in politics, persistence pays off.
Prepare to Win: I got this tip from Governor Huckabee of Arkansas: Bring your own food every where you go. This way, you will always have something to eat -- no matter what is served. If someone is holding a fundraising event for you, request a healthy meal in advance. Don't eat just because it's expected of you.
Diversify: Work in exercises you enjoy. Some candidates like to play tennis, others like to ride bikes. If you enjoy it, you'll stick with it. Either way, start slow. Trying to do too much too fast only leads to burn-out our injury.
If you follow this advice, I believe you will enter your political campaign in fighting shape. You will be sharper, more focused, and more energetic. Good luck to you as you prepare to run the race of your life!
posted by Matt Lewis at 5:58 AM
Subscribe
<< Home