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TV Magic is a fan of the Tradie National Health Month - August

Here are 5 x Awesome TIPS to live a healthier / happier life as a hardworking tradie

What do TV Magic technicians do for fun? Well; we're an active bunch. From fishing to mountain biking, motorbikes, dirtbikes, snowboarding, soccer, football, AFL, hiking, karate and even freestyle rollerblading our team are involved in quite alot of physical activities and sports. It's important for tradies to maintain a physical, healthy lifestyle. Our jobs entail its fair share of traffic, stress, annoying customers, annoying phone calls, spam calls! telemarketers and just plain old " hard jobs that don't go to plan". And when our livlihood's and families don't have a stable paycheck we just have to "get on with business". Doing this ensures our success but also has its toll on our physical and mental well-being. 

#1. TAKE 5 TO READ THESE 5x TIPS

When you create a healthy habit - it actually helps you work harder and makes work more enjoyable!

# 2. Doing things you enjoy fills your bucket..

National Tradie Health Month is a great reminder for what matters most. It's not how many customers you have, how much money you make or how big your bank balance is. Or even; what toys you have - which usually end up being sold a decade later; hardly being used! Right!? It's how many weekends, or better yet how many days of the year you took a step back and had a "lunch break play" (remember that from school?). Ask yourself. When was the last time you had fun? When was the last time you belly laughed? When was the last time you felt you could run a mile and catch your breath back quick? When was the last time you played with your kids? Or had a date night with the wife/girlfriend? Tradies Health is a silent killer. Just ask yourself - when was the last time....

Tradie's Health - The Silent Killer

Have a hard look at yourself and get real honest with your answers. Write the answers to the following 6x questions on a piece of paper. Actually put pen to paper. 

  • 1. When was the last time you had a holiday?
  • 2. WHY did you get into business for yourself to begin with? 
  • 3. Are you living the "dream" that you intended to live when you first started out? or not? (be honest - score yourself /100) 
  • 4. Knowing that living your dream is entirely up to you - Do YOU KNOW you can actually DO IT? do you know that? Yes / No?
  • 5. Knowing that YOU CAN DO IT - WILL YOU ACTUALLY START?   Yes / No? 
  • 6. When will you start? 

Less Stress - More Fun!

#3. Small habits become big habits

Whether you start out doing something that's easy, it's the habit that counts. It might be playing a video game - there's not much physical-ness to it but it may be super enjoyable for you. Then you can start doing other things that you enjoy. This all adds up to creating a less-stressful lifestyle. Perhaps you play video games on a WII - you're standing up, moving around a little. Perhaps your physical activity is a gentle walk, a motorbike ride or walking the dog. All this adds up. It's the habit you're creating! Small habits become medium habits, medium habits become big habits! BIG habits create big changes! Big changes to your stress leves, your mood, your relationships. Overall you will feel like your bucket is full and you have more time, energy and presence for your family, friends and loved ones. 

#4. Ask yourself: When was the last time you had a "lunch break play" ?

A wha?? Yes you heard right. Remember beign at school. Lunch time was for play! Right? If you have the chance, kick a ball around. Ok maybe you have to pass it. Or play handball. Maybe you have to juggle or go off site to do something. Go for a walk, climb the stairs. If you're a concreter or landscaping and you're job is already physically demanding you just need short, hi intense cardio or probably just more holidays. But make sure, whatever you do you're fitting in the "Big Rocks First" . What's the " big rocks"  we hear you say? 

#5. Fit the BIG rocks in FIRST

What does that mean? The story basically goes like this.. a professor once stood in front of a classroom and asked the students if a whole jar full of water can fit into another jar exactly the same size. The class said "of course". So the professor poured the water into the 2nd jar until it was completely full. He then asked, Can I fit this whole jar of sand into the same jar that's full of water? The class said "NO!". And the professor started pouring but the water just came out and of course it didn't "fit" . Then the professor said.. What If I could show you how I can fit this whole jar of water, this whole jar of sand, this whole jar of pebbles, this whole jar of small rocks and even this whole jar of big rocks into just one jar! (The class betted on that this would not be possible). The professor then showed them exactly 'HOW TO FIT EVERYTHING IN' . He filled the jar with the big rocks first. Then the small rocks.. the small rocks fit in the gaps. And then he poured in the pebbles. The pebbles fellinto the gaps between all the BIG rocks and the SMALL rocks. Then he poured in the sand and the sand sifted and moved into all the nooks and crannies around the pebbles. And then lastly he poured in the water and like MAGIC, the whole lot fit in. So the saying Goes - PRIORITISE THE "BIG ROCKS" first in life .. these being of course, your family, your health and fitness. When you fit these BIG ROCKS in first - everything else will fall in place. Often ---- As tradies!!! ---- We are trying to constantly fill our life with water and sand. "Time is money" " Just another job "  " Just a saturday" .. whatever it is that we say to ourselves. It may not be conducive to "Good Tradie's Health"!!  So mate - Start with the BIG ROCKS!