I used to have a frustrating debate in my head about working out. "Okay, let's get this exercise video done. Sure, but first, let me check out FaceBook. Now, I'm hungry. I'll have a snack, wait an hour and then get my sweat on. After that, I should figure out what I'm making for dinner and then finish my research on procrastination. Wow, my office is a mess. I should put together a to-do list and get everything done. Oh, look at the time. I'll exercise tomorrow."
This was a fun game I played when I wanted to avoid the unavoidable. But, unfortunately, putting my health on the back burner was never a good idea. I've found that the way to stop the endless back and forth conversation going on inside my head is to make my body do it. I learned to put my workout clothes on, grab my keys and head out the door. If the weather is terrible, I'll work out at home. Instead of Instagram, I go to YouTube and look for fun videos to train with. Seeing other people lifting weights and doing cardio puts me in the right frame of mind and body to do it. Once I'm in motion, the discussion in my head is over.
We tend to forget the power of our body to help us when we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone. It's easy to flop on the couch after a long day and veg out in front of the t.v. and then go to bed. Believe it or not, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to stay physically active, even if it means doing some push-ups during commercials. As a result, our stress levels go down, and we can get a better night's sleep.
Stretching and taking slow deep breaths helps us to be in the here and now. It gives us a mental break, and we can focus on ourselves for a moment. This is the time to check your posture. Is your head down? Are you slumping your shoulders, or are you standing tall with your head lifted? Our body will give us clues to how we're feeling. The best part is that we can change our position to make us feel fun, silly, or powerful.
Being aware of our bodies is a valuable tool to have when staying on track and exercising regularly. In addition, we are much more vigilant in keeping our core strong because that keeps our posture looking good. Our confidence is reflected in the way we stand, sit and walk, not only to ourselves but to others as well. Staying fit helps us physically but also emotionally. We feel better when our bodies are healthy.
The next time you find yourself fighting to take a walk or a run, stop and slip your sneakers on. Start jogging in place, and let your body end the argument. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment that will keep you in a great mood all day.