The Reach Out: Kevin Seifert
The ESPN reporter doesn't "love" exercising, but finds outdoor walks in Minnesota "invigorating," enjoys the Peloton, and says that "every little bit counts."
Kevin Seifert is a reporter for ESPN’s NFL Nation where he covers league-wide news, analysis, and issues ranging from officiating, health and safety, innovation, and expansion. Seifert also maintains ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 NFL free agents, and is a regular contributor on KFAN 100.3 (Minnesota).
He launched his popular NFC North blog only a few days after Brett Favre reversed his retirement decision in 2008, leading to a wild two years in which he was first traded to the New York Jets and later signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
Seifert previously covered the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and the Baltimore Orioles for the Washington Times.
I asked Kevin Seifert how — and why — he makes time for regular exercise.
How do you make being active a part of your life?
It's a daily challenge, to be completely honest. I work from home and largely do my reporting by phone or Zoom. So my job-related activity over the course of a day is usually just a trip down the stairs and whatever steps I take from one room to another. Sometimes I pace when I'm on the phone, but that's only in the rare cases when I don't need to take notes.
When I look back after a busy day, I realize I've spent 8-10 hours sitting at my desk. It can be a very sedentary job. As a result, I try to identify and block out some segments of the day where I can get away, not necessarily to "exercise" but just to move. It can be something as simple as running a few errands. At Target, I try to park in the furthest spot from the door just to get the extra activity. Every little bit counts.
Since you already make an effort to “move” more during the work day, do you wear a fitness tracker?
No. This might sound silly, but watches of any type bug me when I'm typing, so I end up taking them off whenever I sit down to work at my laptop. I did once experiment with a FitBit, but I kept forgetting to put it back on when I got up from my desk, which defeated the purpose. I do try to keep my phone in my pocket and can get a pretty good approximation of steps that way.
Do you try to stick to a specific exercise routine?
I've found that trying to lock in a timing routine is actually counterproductive for me. Early morning is obviously the most convenient time for full-fledged exercise, but it's also the best time for me to write and even to read. It's when I'm at my sharpest and least distracted. I used to be a night owl, but kids and age ended that.
Every time I've tried to commit to early morning exercise, I've gotten sidetracked by other priorities. On mornings when I didn't work out, I would just write it off for the day. So I try to fit it in wherever I can, and I try not to beat myself up if I haven't gotten it in by the end of the day. In truth, though, I don't really have much of an excuse.
We've had a Peloton bike in the basement for six years, and we just added their treadmill. I can knock out even the most rigorous class in an hour or less, from the moment I head downstairs to when I return.
Have your exercise habits changed since COVID began?
When the pandemic began, my wife and I started taking daily walks with our dog. Thirty minutes of outdoor air can make a huge difference in how I feel, and also how I work for the rest of the day. We live in Minnesota, but I've found the bitter cold air can be especially invigorating -- in reasonable doses!
Is there something that motivates you to keep active and exercise regularly?
The truth is I don't love exercising. My favorite part of it is when it's over -- because it's over, of course, but I do enjoy the natural high I get as I catch my breath and my body cools down.
So this might sound grim, but I'm motivated largely by a fear of activating avoidable health problems if I don't. Our bodies are damaged by all sorts of things as we age. I don't want to add to that because I was too lazy or too distracted to provide it with a basic level of activity.
Do you watch the news, or listen to podcasts or music, while you exercise?
Using the Peloton products pretty much locks you into their instructors and music, which I enjoy for the most part. Paying attention to what they say, and reacting to their various instructions, makes the time move pretty quickly.
If I'm not on a Peloton, I prefer listening to music playlists. Kind of a makeshift Jock James vibe. Lots of "Rocky" music in there, some random EDM and a little Gaslight Anthem.
How do you think we can encourage young people to be more active?
The first and most important thing we can do is focus on the activity they do rather than all the things we think they aren't doing. Kids will be active if the activity is something they like, the same way the Peloton makes me enjoy exercise enough to do it.
I've found that younger kids are very likely to respond to adults in these situations. If you take them to a park and sit on the bench, some of them will play by themselves, but you'll probably see some of them just sitting down in the sand. If you jump in there, raise the energy level and initiate games with them, they'll all join in happily. In other words, you'll get out of it what you put into it.
At least part of parenting is meeting kids on their turf, and knowing what works for them. Can we get them to be more active when they're playing video games? Maybe have them stand rather than sit during that time period? Some kids might think it's ridiculous, but some might gladly make the tradeoff if it means continuing to play.
This is just my personal approach. I don't think there's any right or wrong answers as long as everyone is pulling in the same direction. But I've gotten much better results by joining in with kids, and trying to connect their interests with activity, than trying to get them to go for a run or do 100 sit-ups.
For someone who doesn’t love to exercise, Kevin Seifert sure gets a lot of exercise! I think the pandemic has reminded us all that walking can be a great workout (both physically and mentally). Peloton isn’t the only option!😀
Thank you @SeifertESPN
To read about how other familiar faces keep fit active and fit, please subscribe.😀
If you enjoyed this interview, please share it on social media.
Please follow me on Twitter @The_Reach_Out
https://twitter.com/The_Reach_Out