Fresh Start for 2012
At this time of year, our in-boxes are full of messages about New Year’s resolutions and ways to make our lives a little bit better in the future. It is inspiring and even motivating, however I find that the inspiration and motivation seems to last for just a few weeks, if not less than the time to read the article. Somehow, life has a funny way of intervening and distracting us from our good intentions, doesn’t it?
Well, this morning, I read an item or two about making your life healthier. Instead of just being better at something or doing good works, this approach will help you to have a better life – health-wise and maybe even cut down on your medical bills or business –related insurance bills. if you decide to use the ideas below for your workplace you may wish to visit bhg.com which is my source of inspiration for this item. I can easily relate to resolving to lose weight or to stop a certain bad habit, but if we take action and change the behavior that will allow that improvement to our body or mind to happen, well, then you’ve got something going..
For instance:
When I worked at the Chamber of Commerce, there was a long hallway between my office and the break room and the restrooms… I would drink a zillion cups of coffee when I worked and I walked to that restroom many times as we all know you merely “rent” coffee. I often wondered how many steps I had walked on any given day when the coffee was flowing, so one day I wore a pedometer and to my surprise, my daily trek to and from the coffee urn and restroom and a daily stroll over lunch hour added up to more than 4 miles! So to this I say, ” Go for it, girls!” Walk to lunch, to the restroom to the water cooler, to wherever you can inside and outside your workplace, up and down the stairs, and wear a pedometer if you have one so that you can track yourself and go 10 more steps each day if you wish to make it healthier for yourself. Your goal? Realistically, 6000 steps. Challenge level: 10000 steps!
In the past,I have always engaged in some form of physical activity other than walking to keep in shape. HIgh and low aerobics, Kickboxing, tennis, Yoga, just to name a few of my favs for inner and out strength. During the last few years, however,I have slacked off due to aging limitations and sitting. Sitting and aging are sedentary behaviors that will get the best of you. Beware! The things you eat while sitting will automatically move it to your seat. So I have begun to take up Pilates for core strength and through that I have not only begun to feel stronger, but I have also met the nicest group of women who are a good support system for me to return to class. Some of us have become friends and we will meet outside of class for fun – shopping, birthday celebrations, lunch, etc. I have since added on a Zumba class with a couple of the Pilates women and I look forward to a new year of more physical training and burning off more calories in activity that does not include sitting for long periods of time. Gotta move!
Sitting for long periods of time is not healthy for you. It has been proven medically that if you are seated for long periods of time, you should take a break and stand for a few minutes each hour. This will result in you refocusing your mind and getting some fresh ideas. So walk while you chat on that conference call, or do an errand to break up a long period of being at the screen. Or go for a cup of coffee! That will get you up TWICE!
These are just a couple of ideas that can freshen up your outlook and help you to feel better during these long, wintry months. They are simple plans of action that will remind you to start moving again. Keep moving, and keep playing with a group / support system. Try volleyball, Pilates, bowling, roller derby whatever floats your boat! …Speaking of which; I have booked a Cruise with my BFFs for Springtime. Now that is surely the best motivation of all to get moving and lose a few pounds.
Bermuda, here I come and I plan to look GREAT!
With that in mind, we hope that you look forward to 2012 with possibility, hope and energy!
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