Energy Isn't an Accident: Lessons Learned as a Personal Trainer That Now Shape My Professional Performance

Early in my career as a personal trainer, people constantly commented on how much energy I had. I trained clients from early morning into the evening, stayed upbeat all day, and somehow still felt mentally sharp and positive. At the time, I assumed that level of energy was just part of the job.

When I transitioned into corporate work, that effortless energy didn’t come as naturally—even though I maintained my fitness. What did become clear, however, was how tightly energy was linked to my professional performance. On days when my energy was high, I was more productive, thought more clearly, communicated better, and showed up as a more optimistic and effective leader. When energy dipped, so did everything else—brain fog, irritability, cravings, and that familiar “wired but tired” feeling that creeps in to interrupt sleep and create stress.

There's real tangible value in the cliche idea of being a "corporate athlete."

That’s when I realized something important: the active, non-stop lifestyle of a personal trainer wasn’t energy draining—it was energy generating. And that insight is one I’ve enjoyed sharing with high-performing professionals ever since. Physical and mental wellbeing aren’t just about preventing illness; they’re about creating the energy required to reach your professional potential.

Fitness professionals often seem to have boundless energy and relentlessly positive attitudes. Sometimes it can look fake from the outside, but the truth is simpler: their environment and habits make energy maintenance automatic. In the corporate world, we have to be more intentional—but the same principles still apply.

Here are a few lessons I carried from the gym floor into the boardroom:

Movement is an energy promoter. Regular physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain, supports metabolism, and boosts mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Aerobic exercise also increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports learning, memory, and mental clarity. Resistance training helps preserve metabolic health and builds confidence—both physical and psychological. Short, regular bouts of movement throughout the day can noticeably improve energy and reduce fatigue.

Connect your work to a purpose. Most fitness instructors love what they do, and that intrinsic motivation fuels their energy. When you identify genuine meaning in your work—how it aligns with your values or impacts others—you activate similar motivational pathways. Purpose-driven work supports mood, engagement, and sustained energy.

Make healthy fueling habitual. Most trainers rely on routines: go-to breakfasts, planned snacks, consistent hydration. In corporate roles, energy often falters when nutrition is left to chance. Simple, repeatable habits around meals, hydration, exercise, and stress management reduce decision fatigue and preserve mental bandwidth.

Prioritize sleep—non-negotiable. Sleep supports cognitive performance, emotional regulation, stress resilience, and physical recovery. Poor sleep impairs decision-making and increases stress hormones. Aim for consistent bed and wake times, limit late-night screen exposure, and create a wind-down routine that signals your nervous system it’s time to recover.

If you have extra bandwidth, layer in small energy resets: morning sunlight, brief walks, short social interactions, mental breaks, music, or a few minutes of intentional breathing.

Fitness trainers aren’t superhuman—their habits just make energy easier to sustain. You don’t need to become a fitness influencer to feel better at work, but you can borrow from their playbook. Reintroducing the routines I once relied on as a personal trainer has helped me lead with more clarity, resilience, and positive presence—and I’ve seen these same principles help countless professionals do the same. Perhaps they can help you too.

If empowering your leaders to find and lead with more purpose and energy is important to your business - reach out to HBD and learn more about our science-based Leadership Development programs that support leadership health and resilience, as well as helping them nurture an organizational culture and environment that maintains employee engagement, well-being, and performance.