SOUTH COUNTY
President’ s
COLUMN
Self-Improvement: Fitness for the Too [ Busy, Lazy, Overworked, Unfit, Fill-in-the-Blank ]
by Mark Creech, Esq. The Law Offices of Mark A. Creech, PLLC
Apparently, someone thought it would be a great idea for me to write an article in every issue of The Docket this year. Aside from pointing out the obvious flaw in that plan, I’ ve decided to embrace the opportunity, and I promise to make it worth your time. If it ever isn’ t, feel free to call my office and complain. Seriously.
Let’ s start with something easy: fitness. Here’ s my advice: exercise every day.
I know I’ ll be told this article needs more than 60 words, but if you already exercise daily, you can stop reading. If you work out every other day, feel free to move on. But if you’ re someone who rarely exercises, jogs on an occasional Sunday, or thinks walking to the copier counts— stick with me.
We’ re all busy professionals. We work 60 + hour weeks, attend evening events, take CLEs, manage homes, raise kids, and frankly, a lot of us don’ t like working out. Totally fair. But hear me out: just 20 minutes a day, ideally in the morning, can make a huge difference. It’ ll boost your mood, give you energy, improve muscle tone and cardiovascular health, and might even replace your need for that second cup of coffee. It’ s free, and it’ s easy to start.
Begin small. One push-up. One sit-up. One squat. That’ s it.
Build from there. Ten of each. Maybe twenty. Do sets. Get creative: add soup cans, a jug of milk, or a legal treatise for resistance. Squats while brushing your teeth? Yes. Ab work at your desk? Also yes. Push-ups while your coffee reheats? You get the idea.
If you think you don’ t have time, I’ d argue you already have the discipline. You brush your teeth. Check your email. Show up to work. Read this newsletter. You can absolutely squeeze in 20 minutes for your health.
And if you miss a day? So what. You’ re human. You did the work most days. One day off won’ t undo your progress.
Need proof? I could cite Harvard, the AMA, Yale, Columbia, or any number of reputable studies. Or I could tell you about my high school track coach, who ran three miles a day well into his 80s— right up until the day before he passed. He just never stopped.
Still not convinced? Try it. Day one will feel good. Day two, maybe a little sore, but that’ s progress. By day six, you’ ll be adding reps. Eventually, it becomes a habit. Then compulsion. Then identity.
For those who don’ t know me: I’ m a former college athlete, triathlete, coach, and current over-the-hill fitness junkie. These days, I do about 500 push-ups, 600 ab exercises, and 200 squats each week, mostly before 7 a. m., without ever stepping foot in a gym. I’ ll gladly share my routine with the caveat that it won’ t work for everyone. Some will transform into Hugh Jackman. Some into Gal Gadot. Some into... well, me. But all of us will be stronger and healthier for it.
So, if you’ ve made it this far, get your return on investment. Tomorrow morning, roll out of bed. Drop to the floor. Do a few sit-ups. Flip over for some push-ups( knees are fine). Stand up. Squat a dozen times. Then go conquer your day. And if nothing else, you’ ll have earned that second donut. �
14 | THE DOCKET- SEPTEMBER SUMMER 2024 2025