Attorneys make wellness part of their busy routines
Buffalo Law Journal
Attorney Ryan Johnsen was interviewed on the importance of exercise and health wellness in his life.
What does wellness mean to you? How do you work healthy habits into your life to diffuse stressors that come with a legal career?
Wellness to me isn’t just getting to the gym and eating right; it’s taking into consideration mental health, as well. In order to stay balanced in all areas, I make sure I get to the gym, utilize a meal-prep service for lunches and dinners – so I don’t give in to the temptation of going out to eat for every meal – and spend at least 30 minutes a day unplugged where I can engage in some self-reflection.
How do you incorporate exercise into a hectic schedule? What’s your routine like and how often do you fit it in throughout the week?
I used to be a gym-in-the-morning kind of guy but I always felt my workouts were rushed and I was thinking about too many things at the office. In the past year, I changed to going after work but making sure I stop on the way home from the office so I don’t get distracted with other things. It also helps that I don’t have any other life commitments that require my attention at home. In a perfect world, I’m at the gym five days a week for 45 minutes to an hour each visit. How often that “perfect world” exists, however, is up for debate. If I can get there four days a week, I’m happy. Oh, and pre-workout (energy supplements) are a savior on the days that I really don’t want to go.
Do you work out on the weekends? Is your routine different?
My workouts on the weekends are longer but less intense as I don’t feel pressure to get everything done in a short amount of time. I also try to incorporate more stretching/preventative maintenance on the weekends as I don’t have the time during the week to fit it all in – unless I want to get home at 9:30 p.m.
Do workouts let off steam from stress?
On very stressful days, I absolutely need to lift (weights) heavy. Usually a chest workout does the trick. I’ve never been much of a long-distance cardio guy, so I can’t speak to the runner’s high I’ve heard a lot about. But there is something very cathartic about hearing weights clink around.
Is eating healthy a goal of yours? What are some tips?
Eating healthy is absolutely a goal. I utilize the meal-prep service for lunches and dinners during the week. It’s not that I don’t like to cook, or that I’m terrible at it; it is just one less thing I have to worry about and I know that I’m at least getting a balanced meal. Holiday time is tough, though, especially with all the cookies and snacks getting passed around the office on a daily basis. As long as I indulge in moderation, I’m not too worried about the side effects of a few sweets.
https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2020/01/04/buffalo-attorneys-wellness-exercise-fitness.html