Why Your Job Doesn’t Count as Exercise: Choosing Your Hard, Choosing Your Pain

It's easy to think that a physically demanding job is enough to keep you fit, but relying on work alone for exercise can set you up for long-term weakness and injury. Over time, your body adapts to the repetitive motions of your job, and without intentional, challenging workouts, your strength and resilience will decline. In this article, we explore the importance of pushing yourself physically beyond your job’s demands, the value of choosing your pain—whether the discomfort of a workout or the chronic strain of neglecting your health—and how building strength through focused effort makes daily life easier.