2P78: Fit to Lead

The latest episode of the 2Principals Podcast hosted by Kevin Jost and Jason Paurus focused on the impact of physical health on leadership abilities. They kicked things off with the song of the day, "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers from 1977, and a would you rather question about prioritizing exercise or having more free time.

The hosts then delved into the importance of physical health for leaders, sharing studies that show physically active leaders are more productive, make better decisions, and have improved cognitive function, emotional intelligence, and decision-making skills. However, they acknowledged the common barriers principals face like intense workloads, the sedentary nature of the job, stress/burnout, and school culture expectations around long hours.

To overcome these, Kevin and Jason provided practical strategies principals can implement such as building physical activity into their daily routines, getting creative with meeting formats like walking meetings or standing desks, and prioritizing self-care through breaks and deep breathing exercises. Overall, they stressed making physical health a priority rather than an afterthought.

The two principals then discussed their current routines and looked ahead to having more intentional, in-depth workout routines over the summer when things slow down a bit. Their pieces of advice were for principals to start small and be consistent with any new physical routine (Kevin), and to enlist support and accountability from others rather than going it alone (Jason).

In conclusion, the hosts emphasized that while physical health is often overlooked, it's a crucial aspect of effective leadership. By prioritizing it and using practical strategies, principals can improve their energy, focus, and overall abilities to lead their schools.

2Principal Partner:

Healthwise Behavioral Health & Wellness

We want to take a moment to communicate our most sincere gratitude for our supportive sponsor Healthwise Behavioral Health and Wellness. This organization has believed in the 2Principals from the start and we couldn’t be more thankful. If you are looking for an organization that has a philosophy of considering the whole-person with comprehensive services that are rooted in evidence-based science while at the same time understanding the inter-connectedness of the mind, body, and experience, then look no further than Healthwise Behavioral Health and Wellness.

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