Looking For The Perfect Time And Motivation To Exercise?
We want to do it all, have it all, and enjoy it all. We want to look good, feel great, and live forever with vibrant health and quality of life. Somewhere, deep down, we know that exercise, preferably on a daily basis, is a fact of life and required for these wants. But, exercise? The excuses start with, “I’d really like to but I’m too busy, too tired, too stressed out, don’t have the right equipment,” etc.
There are so many ways to get in our daily exercise. We don’t always have to devote a major chunk of time to exercise. The body keeps score of every movement and exertion we make, so we can add up many of the daily activities we already are doing and then exaggerate, if possible, the time or distance, adjust our attitude to positive, and be grateful that we have the opportunity to do something that our body will appreciate. Also, as we choose, perhaps design, what and how we are going to accomplish more daily exercise, we get the opportunity to exercise our creativity muscle.
Here is a list of what many creative people do for themselves based on their work situations and lifestyles. Use these suggestions to spark your motivation to improve your health, looks, energy, and enjoyment of life.
If you forget something in the car, upstairs, or in another room, be happy to go get it rather than sighing, grumbling, or asking someone else to fetch for you.
Every time you lift a sack of groceries or a child or stretch to reach something on a high shelf, smile to yourself as you hear your muscles thank you.
While watching tv, do leg lifts, push ups, planks, or roll around on an exercise ball. If sitting on a chair, do knee lifts and tri-cep dips. These can be done in an office as well.
Call on two or three neighbors to join you to meet for a 20-30 minute (or longer) walk after kids are off to school – an automatic support group is created and is an extra bonus. Meaningful relationships also contribute to good health.
Wear ankle and/or wrist weights while working around the house. Appreciate how your muscles are working for you instead of some negative feeling that you might otherwise have about housework.
Put on your favorite music and dance around the house – as though no one were watching. If you know someone is watching (hint: your spouse/kids), dance with them. Dance away your housework. Sing, too, this exercises tiny muscles inside.
Hold in your abs and sit up a bit straighter every time you think of it: walking, driving, watching tv, waiting in doctor’s office.
When possible, walk kids to school and take a longer walk home. Walk to visit colleagues in your office rather than phoning them. Walk at the mall on a bad weather day or just for the enjoyment of seeing what’s in the store windows.
Park a bit farther away than you need to at work, grocery, doctor, mall, etc. Also, buy a pedometer and enjoy seeing the steps add up.
I recently read a statement from a woman who was talking about weight loss. She said, “the only way to strip away the fat is to strip away the excuses.” How true!!! Don’t get caught up in excuses. Remember, exercise – even a little at a time – contributes to all the positive things we say we want to do, have, and be.
©2008/2009 Beverly Staley, MS, Certified Life Coach
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