Make the First Move to Brush Away the Clouds
By Sandy Schroeder
If every day looks cloudy when you wake up, you may need to take action to stir things up.
The Mayo Clinic recommends being more physically active in any way you can to stay healthy and keep your spirits up as you move through the day. Finding ways to stay active beyond formal exercise could make a big difference in your mental and physical health.
Anything that takes physical energy and works your muscles will help. Dancing with your kids, playing tag in the back yard, or making time to plant a garden all count.
See What You Could Do
Take a look at your daily routines and see what you and your family could do to activate everything.
Focus on cardio - Running, lifting weights or playing volleyball with your family will get your heart rate up.
Involve everybody - Reserve some time each day for family work and play. Washing the dog or the car, trimming the bushes or shooting hoops will get everybody moving.
Rethink the family room - Bring in small weights, yoga mats, or treadmills and cycles. If you have the room add a rowing machine. Anything that gets you off the couch will help.
Activate your weekends - You may still be watching old movies and playing video games, but it would be smart to get bikes for everybody, do some camping, or try a few hikes in nearby areas. You can also add golf, tennis, boating, swimming and fishing.
Get outside whenever you can - Make your backyard an extra room that encourages soccer, volleyball, basketball, gardening and any other hobbies that work. Add a barbecue, hammock, pillows and mats.
Use brief sessions to break up work - If you are working from home and your kids are studying, you could use short walks to the park, jumping jacks, or jump rope to avoid sitting too much.
Expand simple stuff - Always take the stairs and avoid elevators. Walk to do errands instead of driving. Park in the back of lots when you shop. Bike instead of driving when you can.
Count in household tasks - As you look for ways to move more, give yourself credit for vacuuming, toting laundry, cleaning bathrooms and tile floors, and trimming the bushes.
Add in 30 minutes - While you are at it, insert specific exercises into your daily schedule. You could break them up into 10- or 15-minute segments or add them in at the beginning or end of the day. Stretching or strength and core exercises would work along with yoga or tai chi poses.
Track your progress - As you try a variety of things, try to track the ones that are working the best for you and your family. Support the popular ones and look for replacements for the ones that don't work. At the end of the week, hand out prizes to the overachievers and bake something to celebrate.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pearland, Tex.