Who wants to be healthy?
I see you!
So…what is healthy? How will you know when you’re “healthy?” How long will it take to get there? What does it look like? Can you eat pizza and ice cream when you get there?
Well, “healthy” isn’t really a destination. It’s a direction. Think of it like going west. You never arrive at “west,” you just head in that direction. People think “getting healthy” takes hours of hard exercise and a restrictive diet. It’s overwhelming! That’s why so many never even get started and it’s understandable.
People are busy! Between work, family, and trying to keep your head above the rolling tides of insanity this world keeps throwing at you, the thought of adding hours of exercise and food prep to that feels like about 18 too many things.
The good news is you don’t have to do all that to get healthier. Just like taking one step west moves you in that direction, there are easy things you can do any time to move you towards “healthier”.
Here’s ten:
Drink some water. It’s been estimated that 75% of people are chronically dehydrated, which can lead to cognitive and physical issues.
Do some Wall Slides. Sit at a computer all day? Use your phone much? Do a set of 5 of these once or twice a day to open up your shoulders and get that tension out of your neck.
Breathe. For some reason, people seem stressed these days. A great way to let your body know it’s OK to calm down is deep breathing. Get comfortable, put one hand on your belly and breathe deep enough that you can feel it expand. Take 8 breaths and see how you feel.
Take a 10-minute walk. Get yourself some Vitamin D, relieve some stress, and get your blood flowing and you’ll also help your digestion if you do this after you eat.
Read some Shakespeare. Come on! You gotta get that mind in shape, too! “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” – Shakespeare
Do some foot circles. Don’t forget about your ankles! Bad ankles = knee, hip, and back pain. Make 20-30 smooth circles each way with each foot and be sure not to move your leg as you do them.
Eat an apple. Know why eating an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Because they’re packed with nutrients!
Do some Standing Cross Crawls. Stand tall, raise your left knee and touch it with your right hand. Now do the same with your right knee and left hand. Once you get the pattern, pick up the pace. It’s a nice way to work on hip mobility, your core, and raise your heart rate all at once. Do for about 30 seconds.
Throw away your scale. Not sure? Close your eyes and imagine tossing it into a dumpster. Notice the full-body exhale and existential relief that washes over you? There is nothing healthy about a scale.
Get more puppy kisses! Science has told us there is nothing healthier than puppy kisses!
Penny is such a cutie!
I know none of these things are difficult, but that’s the point. You don’t need to completely change everything about your life to take steps toward health. There are many ways to get there and they’re all valid. You just have to figure out the best path for you.
Mitch Rothbardt Castro Valley Fitness 510-755-9191