Summary: When I was little, I loved to stand in the garden as my grandparents tilled soil and put out spring tomatoes. <br> The smell of freshly tilled dirt, the sun beating down on my back, the brush of the ground with hoes and rakes—all these memories come back to me each spring. My grandparents didn’t just garden for hobby. They would can vegetables to use throughout the whole year. To grow that many vegetables, however, they understood the importance of good soil, watering and sufficient sunlight.<br> I have a question for you about the kind of care you are giving to an important garden in your life. How are currently taking care of your body? If what you reap from a healthy garden requires good soil, seed, and care, how is your body any different if you want strong personal outcomes?<br> As a school leader, you understand a lot about learning styles, school culture, and organizational leadership. But how much do you think your physical health plays into the outcomes happening at your school?<br> In 2009, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/toolkit/factsheet_pa_guidelines_schools.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> shared findings that student physical activity contributes to strong academic performance. Here were just three takeaways from their findings: <br> • Physical activity can help youth improve their concentration, memory, and classroom behavior.<br><br> • Youth who spend more time in physical education class do not have lower test scores than youth who spend less time in physical education class.<br><br> • Elementary school girls who participated in more physical education had better math and reading tests scores than girls who had less time in physical education. (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/toolkit/factsheet_pa_guidelines_schools.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cdc.gov</a>)<br> As we encourage our young people to consider the effects of physical activity on their own learning, when is the last time you reflected on how your own personal health may be affecting your own leadership?<br> I’m Going to Die!<br> Over the years, I have learned some hard lessons about neglecting my own physical health. One day I was standing in a meeting with a group of leaders from across my district. I was the newest assistant principal and the youngest one in the room. As we were waiting for a meeting to begin, every person began to share what physical condition they were currently battling. Each one was taking different medications for ailments. They shared concerns about cholesterol and heart conditions.<br> As I looked around the room, I began to panic, and I thought, “If I stay in school administration, I’m going to die!” <br> Of course, I know every job is stressful, and eventually we’re all going to die. But as I began to seriously reflect on my own experience as a young administrator, I realized I had gained twenty pounds. I skipped meals or ate convenience food because school activities were more important than good nutrition. I had stopped exercising because I needed the extra time to catch up on emails or other school projects. Frankly, I was a mess and felt like it most of the time. <br> I knew I had to make time for better priorities. And I as I did, I began to notice a difference in the way I worked. A commitment to better health, nutrition and exercise began to give me more energy, focus and creativity.<br> Let me share five ways I have invested in personal health, not as a prescription, but just as an example of how one school administrator has learned to adopt healthier choices into his busy days.<br> 1. Exercise<br> I have a three-mile route I like to run in my neighborhood. For years, I tried to schedule time at the gym or exercise after school, but it just didn’t work for me. So, when I decided to begin exercising, I bought a pair of running shoes.
