I Really Didn’t Feel Like Moving Today

This morning, I was really out of snuff.

I knew I needed to figure out how to be more active during the day. There was just one problem.

I really, really didn’t feel like doing it.

I’ve been down in my back lately, and somewhere along the way I got out of the habit of getting things done. On days when we don’t have work, I’ve even gotten into the habit of staying in my lounge dress all day.

This morning, I needed to figure out how to get myself moving again.

I Started by Journaling

I tried journaling first.

That helped a little. Writing things down gave me a chance to think about what was bothering me and what I wanted to accomplish.

But I still needed something more practical.

So I made myself a list.

It wasn’t a list of exercises. It was a list of ordinary daily tasks that would get me up and moving.

Some of them were very simple.

Wash my face.

Make the bed.

Clean the kitchen.

These aren’t things I would normally think of as exercise. But they do require me to get out of my chair and move.

And that was exactly what I needed.

Then I Got Dressed

This may sound like a little thing, but I think it made a big difference.

I got dressed.

Not in my lounge dress. I put on regular clothes and my shoes.

That seemed to tell my brain that the day had started and I had things to do.

Apparently, my lounge dress may have been conspiring with my chair. I’m keeping an eye on both of them.

I Put My Day on the Calendar

I use Google Calendar to help keep myself organized, so I put my tasks there.

I also set those tasks to repeat every day.

Now I don’t have to start from scratch each morning and figure out how I’m going to get moving.

I already have a simple daily activity plan waiting for me in my calendar.

That gave me something else I needed.

I could mark things complete.

There is something satisfying about finishing a task and checking it off. Then I could move on to the next one.

Instead of looking at the whole day and thinking about everything I needed to accomplish, I could concentrate on one little thing at a time.

And every little thing got me moving.

I Watched My Activity Add Up

I also used the cardio load feature on my Google Health watch.

I have a weekly cardio goal, and I could see my activity adding up as I went through my day.

That gave me another little push to keep going.

I wasn’t doing a formal workout. I was simply trying to have an active day.

And it was working.

Even Feeding the Chickens Became Exercise

Normally, I might take the golf cart out to feed the chickens.

Today I walked.

It was a small decision, but that’s really what the whole day was about.

Small decisions.

Get dressed instead of staying in my lounge dress.

Put on my shoes.

Make the bed.

Clean the kitchen.

Walk instead of taking the golf cart.

One choice didn’t amount to very much. But by the end of the day, all those choices had added up to a good amount of light activity.

I Didn’t Wait Until I Felt Like It

I think that’s the biggest thing I learned today.

This morning, I didn’t feel motivated.

I could have waited around hoping motivation would eventually show up.

Instead, I started doing little things.

And somewhere along the way, my attitude changed.

I felt more focused. I felt more productive. And I ended up having a very good day.

Maybe I don’t always have to feel motivated before I start.

Maybe sometimes I just need to put on my shoes and do the first thing on the list.

Then I can see where the day takes me.

Today, it took me all the way out to the chicken coop.

On foot.