• How to Increase Productivity through Simulation Exercises

    by Alexander Becker on September 10, 2006 | Link

    Simulated exercises is another fitness-related topic that lends itself to adaptation from a productivity and business perspective. The business world tends to shyly take their glances from time to time trying to get inspiration from sports and physical activities. The often observed spectator attitude is not an example to learn from. Let's take a look at physical training methods.

    Most physical training programs are based on the overload principle, where --

    Exercises must be done at a higher level than usual to bring about various training adaptations. Once the body has adapted to the higher level of exercise it will function more effectively and efficiently.

    ... from the highly recommended Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide.

    A different physical training method is simulated training, in fact it is rather rehearsing than it is actual training. This method does not involve the raising of resistance in order to increase strength or endurance -- it is focusing on technique, on form itself -- once the body has adapted to perfect form it will function more effectively when dealing with resistance.

    We're talking about "dry exercises," especially about weight training without the weights, or resistance training without actual resistance.

    Go through the movements, pretend doing the real thing, do as if -- and do it over and over.

    While the load and the responsibility and the actual force are absent, simulating actions is a great way to train, to rehearse, and to prepare yourself for the real thing. Heavy weights may compromize proper form and may lead to injuries. Concentrate solely on proper form, on style, and focus on the eventual stimulation that will occur within your system when finally acting under load.

    To abstract this type of exercise even more, consider high velocity movements and make them infinitely slow. Take the endurance out of endurance training, see what remains left and deal with it as properly as you can. It is the slow repetition that yields the biggest training effect when focusing on form and technique.

    Now, where is the analogy in productivity? In business? What about resistance as in stress for example? Resistance as in actual work?

    Observe how mindfully and how carefully you plan your productivity, the many techniques you research in order to get things done. The planning and layout of productivity systems, filing solutions and sorting mechanisms and schedules. This is all dry exercising. No real work, like weight training without weights. You improve your form to perfection. You only need to apply the acquired perfection to actual work.

    The endurance training equivalent is working over time. When is your most productive hour? Is it the last hour of the day? Endurance at work is the ability to work long hours effectively and efficiently. Pace yourself and strive to emulate the runner's high during the shortest increments of working time. Benefit from your endurance during the first hour as well as at the end of the 14th hour. Do not work sprinting, instead, work like running a marathon, where under perfect conditions, it doesn't matter whether you run 42.195 km or the double distance.

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