My husband Matt and I started wearing fitness bands at the beginning of this year. Yes I know, it’s 2021 and we just started wearing fitness bands. Especially if you’ve been wearing one for years, it probably feels like we are way behind on the times, I get it. In wearing this fitness band I was definitely made more aware of several things, but the one that totally shocked me was how little I move.
Now, I do a full workout about four to six days a week. And it’s not those days I’m talking about my lack of movement; I’m talking about the rest days, the days where I don’t really have a workout. My mind was blown on how many hours I am sedentary, how little movement I’m getting in. And look, even if it’s a rest day it doesn’t mean, oh, sit on your butt in front of the computer for 8 to 10 hours and then go move over to the couch, where you’re going to sit some more and watch TV or whatever it is you’re doing – that is really not rest.
I saw that on those days that I barely moved, and I’ve been working from home for years now.
But prior to COVID I at least got movement in through the little trips back and forth to my car as I shuttled my kids to school and to practices and rehearsals, or being down at a ball field and walking from the parking lot and back; all of those little pieces of movement have been gone from my life for the past year. I had to figure out ways to start putting those back in place, so I thought I’d share those with you in case you might be experiencing the same predicament – because we need to move!
If you’re feeling aches and pains, stiffness, soreness, I’ve got to tell you, you’re probably not moving enough. One of the things I realized is that for most of my meetings, nearly all of them, I am tethered to my computer because I’m in a virtual meeting. But there are those little bits and pieces where I am able to make a phone call.
Any chance you get where you don’t have to be sitting on camera in front of your computer, take those calls walking – as many walking calls or walking meetings as you can!
Get moving during that time. I had a fear that, well, what if I need to get to my computer, what if I need to access something? Then take your walk nearby. I literally have walked laps in the downstairs of my home, walking in circles around my living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, and back again, in circles. That way if I need to get to my computer, I can – but at least I’m moving. Now ideally you’re outside, you’re covering more ground, but don’t make excuses – find little ways to make it work.
The final thing I would offer, if you’re not aware of it, is that there are walking meditations that you can do where you actually put your earbuds in and there’s a meditation for you to follow while walking. It is an amazing way to clear your mind and get re-centered, especially if you’re doing it during lunchtime. Take just five minutes to do a walking meditation.
Not only are you resetting then, you’re getting activation in the body; I’m getting that blood flowing and creating more energy so that I can tackle the rest of my day. So get moving! Let’s make sure that any little way, be creative, even if it’s for 90 seconds. Yes, 90 seconds!
Get up and start moving today. Post in the comments below, how are you creative? How do you find those little ways to make sure that you still get some sort of movement in, even if it’s not blocking out a whole chunk of time for exercise? I want to hear from you!