Our jobs can be quite unhealthy, so what can the older instructor do to stay a little fitter?

Measure and Check

Keep an eye on yourself. Decide what you want to monitor and set aside some time to do this. For me, it’s every Monday morning.

I keep a record of my weight. Being a bit of a dinosaur, I use a paper diary (sorry, Dan) and have a weigh-in first thing in the morning. This way, I have a general picture of how my overall weight is and which way it’s heading.

Since I had a bit of a scare with my blood pressure, I also track that. Check what a safe range is for you and keep an eye on it. See a doctor if it’s outside that safe range.

Regular eyesight checks can reveal more than just changes in your vision. Every two years, you could be saving your life in all sorts of ways. Besides the eyes being the window to your soul, they can reveal other physical conditions as well.

If you find yourself getting up to pee frequently during the night, get yourself checked. Take action sooner rather than later. You want your pupils doing things early for road safety, so for your own safety act now!

See a dentist. If you haven’t been for a while, it might cost you a few bob, but get your teeth sorted. Then get yourself some decent dental insurance and go regularly.

Get your hearing checked if you find that everyone seems to be mumbling, maybe it’s you and not them. People saying that the telly is too loud is another clue. Leaning into your pupil might also be a sign that all is not well with your hearing.

Brush Your Teeth

I know you already do this, but there are some easy wins you can add to your routine.

Last thing at night, floss. If your gums bleed, it means you need more flossing. It may also be a sign of infection, and infection in the mouth is close to the brain so do something about it.

Brush your teeth while standing on one leg. It will improve your balance and help strengthen your legs. I alternate legs morning and evening e.g. left leg in the morning, right leg at night. It’s part of your day anyway, so make the most of it.

Move

Find a few moments to stretch each morning. It will release tension from your body and improve mobility. Touching your toes and doing a few squats each morning might, over time, make all the difference. Try a bit of yoga, it’s not as easy as you might think but it builds muscle and provides other benefits.

Get your steps in. You’d be a very wise instructor if you allowed some time between each lesson for a quick walk. It helps you decompress from your previous session, and the act of walking loosens you up and raises your energy levels.

It’s very easy to spend the whole day sitting down. You’ll send a text to tell your pupil you’re outside, and before you know it, you’ve not stood up once. You’ve done no one any favours, least of all yourself.

So, get out and knock on the door rather than sending a text. When your pupil completes a manoeuvre, ask if they’d like to get out and see how they’ve parked, most will. Take those few minutes for a walk between lessons and you’ll deliver better sessions.

Use stairs whenever you can, and push yourself up with your legs rather than pulling up with your arms. Last but not least, try getting up from a seated position without using your hands or arms to push yourself.

With all these movement habits, keep at it, I promise you’ll improve.

Engage

Find something outside driving instruction that involves other people. A regular trip to the gym at the same time each week will soon mean you’re seeing the same familiar faces.

Find something you enjoy and connect with others who enjoy it too. It might be joining the Ramblers for a regular walk, or standing in the same spot at football each week.

The best thing for people is other people. By that, I mean people you can have real conversations with. Don’t be the person with a thousand Facebook friends but still feel lonely.

Use a shop till with a real person serving you. It might take a few minutes longer, but after a while, you’ll get to know them and have a genuine connection. A self-service till never smiles at you or says hello and I’m guessing you don’t smile at one either. A smile a day can help keep the doctor away.

Volunteer for your local ADI association. Find something you love and other people who love it too.

To have a friend, be a friend. Help someone simply because you can and see how it can enrich your life. If it’s good for the bee, it’s good for the hive. You became a driving instructor to help people – be someone others can admire.

Food and Drink

Remember, when faced with a choice between chocolate or fruit, chocolate will always win! So make a point of buying more fruit for routine snacking, and save chocolate for treats.

Keep yourself hydrated, but if you’re an older male instructor, you’ll need to balance this with trips to the loo. Learn to manage your bladder and, if necessary, get yourself checked.

Summary

Keep active! That means moving your body and engaging your brain. Remember that the best thing for people, including you, is other people.

© Liam Greaney
www.driving-pro.com

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