You're tired of feeling tired all the time. You've decided to get more active. You watch the kids running and jumping in the park. You remember when you were like that. You want to be like that again.
Watching the kids is fun and inspiring. But you can learn from them too. Often, when we grown-up kids decide to get more active, our plans become rather complicated rather quickly. We feel the need to buy gear, look into gym memberships, subscribe to magazines . . .
You probably want to do some of that at some point. You are a complicated grown-up after all. But, while you're just getting started, learn from the kids. Kids are active simply by being active. You put my kids in an empty room, they'll start jumping up and down. After that, they might run around in circles.
Kids gotta move. And so do you.
Here are some ways to start moving right now. Three of them involve walking. This is no accident. Walking is a great way to get your body moving without much risk of injury or exhaustion.
1. Canvass for a Charity
There are lots of people in need. The list is endless: the Cancer Society, the Children's Wish Foundation, OxFam, the Apostrophe Protection Society . . . Now more than ever, charities need enthusiastic volunteers. Pick whichever charity is closest to your heart and start your walking from house to house (to house). At one of your stops, you might make a new friend . . .
2. Get a Walking Buddy
Walking alone has its merits, but the conversation is a little thin. Getting a walking buddy is a great way to make sure that you look forward to your next walk. Make sure that you pick someone interesting . . .
3. Start a Home Repair or Building Project
Those of you in apartments might need to get inventive but, surely, even in the smallest of city sardine cans , there are jobs to do. Jobs that require you to move things about, lift, bend, or strain with a screwdriver.
4. Get a Dog
Dogs need to be walked. Get a dog and be a responsible dog owner by walking your dog often. Couldn't be simpler.
5. Cancel Your Cable
Some recent experience has reminded me: TV is a time-sucker and gut-expander. When you're feeling a little tired at the end of the day, there's nothing easier than sitting down and picking up the remote. Within seconds, you can be lost in the latest doings of Brangelina or Kate Gosselin. Do yourself a favor: Stop watching people who are in great shape and start getting into better shape yourself!
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4 comments:
I love the walking buddy idea! You are right, walking is boring otherwise!
Oh my lord, is this article serious? I thought it was meant as a parody at first. Are we really so bad off that we have to be exhorted just to take a walk or join a charity to get off our butts? My stomach is turning over thinking about it. When did they put the lazy juice in our water supply?
Hi Todd:
I am happy for you that you thought it was a parody. Sadly, though, it was not. There is a great deal of variability in how much exercise folks get. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who get next to none.
I'm very sorry, Ian, I hope my tone didn't sound critical and unsympathetic, beause this seems tragic, not funny. People argue over the cause of obesity and whether exercise is of any value or not. Well, if they are this inactive, it's not even a matter of "exercise," it's a matter of simple self-efficacy and minimal activity.
I've gone through periods in my life where I didn't move very much when I was very depressed or stressed, and the lack of movement just became a vicious cycle that perpetuated the depression, made me gain weight, get more depressed, etc.. But it seemed obvious that what I needed to do was move so that I would feel better about myself and accomplish something with my body.
I guess many people are managing well enough that they just don't realize the harm the inactivity is doing to them over time.
Thanks for sharing the ideas, I sincerely hope they help the people who need them!
kind regards,
Todd
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