Tip 55: Exercise early, everyday

The title of this tip can mean different things. Early exercise is a financial term to mean exercising the rights granted by a financial option or security before its maturity or expiration date. This brings us to a question - is there a maturity or expiration date for daddy or at least, a date when daddy needs to seriously consider a rigid exercise routine? Probably its too late to be using the term early exercise but more to highlight the fact that all daddies need to start thinking of an exercise routine. Research showed that we need to start as early as 12 years old and such early exercise in life for instance can protect girls from breast cancer. All the more, a good motivation for daddies to buck up on their goals to keep a fit and healthy body, be disciplined for exercise and be a good role model for their kids one day. This brings us to more questions ... How many days per week do you exercise? Its amazing that many health conscious people from developed countries do at least a 5 day per week routine, if not daily with exceptions only when one is sick. Of course, exercise differs from individual to individual whether its carrying a 5 kg baby everyday to pulling weeds in the backyard to a solid gym routine. The modern environment these days have rendered many tasks less strenuous than before which makes the human body in need of more conscious exercise efforts. For daddy, nothing is more important than being safe, healthy and full of energy to give to ones' family and the people around him. And that means, getting our lazy butts off the couch and work out our bodies.

Ever since leaving my home country and the lifestyle of driving everyday, I got to a good habit of cycling to whereever I want to go. Its convenient, cheap and sometimes quicker than taking a bus. Besides its quite flexible where you can check out new areas easily without worrying about parking your car. You begin to check out stores along your usual cycling routine to take a break or just to appreciate nature. Of course, it helps when the environment is clean with good bicycle and pedestrian lanes, traffic that's not too heavy and abidding to the rules and good scenery along the cycling route. When in Hawaii, it was such a priviledge to check out new beaches easily when not in a hurry. Now in Tokyo, since the cost of parking and maintaining a car is expensive without government petrol subsidies, its a good motivation to not own a car and the luxury of not doing exercises. Living in central Tokyo, I am just 30 minutes bicycle ride from my work place at Akasaka business district with a pleasant view of greenery and river on the way instead of a crowded train full of passengers. Though, getting used to cycling everyday makes me think that I may need a more rigorous exercise routine. Maybe getting more involved in house work and getting back home early to carry little Haruka more would make up for it.