Today is Election Day in the United States. Although Operation Gadget is not about politics, I feel safe encouraging U.S. readers to vote today if you feel strongly about the candidates running in your district.

I'm on safer ground when I urge you to get some exercise today. I think that exercise during the period between Halloween and New Year's Day is critical to lifelong fitness. Once we pass the end of Daylight Savings Time in North America, a lot of people lose their opportunity to exercise outdoors in daylight. Don't stop working out now and lose the fitness you've gained through the Summer.

I have the good fortune of being a home office worker at this point in my career. I need to look for days with good weather and calm winds, and use daylight conditions to get out on my bike. Riding at this time of year helps me maintain my fitness base so that I'm comfortable officiating ice hockey games on the weekends.

If you are an office worker, look for ways to incorporate exercise in your midday break (that time that most people call "lunch"). If you are fortunate enough to have showers at your workplace, bring exercise clothes and hit the road for a run or a fast walk.

If you don't have the flexibility to interrupt your day, try to timeshift by exercising before work. It will be brighter in the morning before work for a few weeks. Try to use that time to your health advantage.

If none of those options work, sign up for some sort of indoor exercise. Here are some options:

• get a three to six month gym membership,
• join an industrial hockey, basketball, or tennis league,
• climb artificial rock walls,
• participate in martial arts.

You'll thank yourself for being proactive on Thanksgiving afternoon.