TGIMonday! A new week, a new perspective.
Last week was a hard one. The winter doldrums were bringing me down big-time. It’s not unusual for people to be a bit sad or have a case of SAD this time of year but I don’t recall it being a problem for me in the past. Lately I have been experiencing classic symptoms; fatigue, lack of motivation, and general malaise.
In line with “if you know what’s good for you-DO IT”, here’s a list of things that help pull me out of a funk. Let it serve as a public reminder to myself and perhaps you, if you are sharing any of these “symptoms” with me.
- Give yourself a break every once in a while. Whether it’s 10 minutes or a day, throw the to-do list into the wind and follow your deep intuition as to what you need
- Reach out! Call a friend, write a friend, write a blog post, read a blog post, connect with others in some way.
- Get outside. Get outside in the rain, cold, snow, sleet (well, maybe not, that might actually be depressing). Fresh air is extremely motivating.
- Exercise! Big surprise to find this on on the list, I know. But now is the time to REALLY listen to your body. Maybe it’s more appropriate to meet a friend for a long walk (and check off numbers 2 and 3!) than to go on a solo run or hit the gym machines.
- Set easily attainable goals. Checking things off my to-do list makes me feel accomplished so sometimes I will write something as obvious as “make dinner”. Somehow achieving these necessary to-do’s makes it easier to stay motivated for the more dreaded tasks.
- There are no dreaded tasks. To paraphrase Maya Angelo, if you can’t change the situation, change your attitude. I have been practicing this one on and off for a few months. If there is a task that I have been putting off (paying bills, cleaning the toilets) I decide to do it without thoughts about whether or not I want to be doing it. By turning on auto-pilot for a few minutes I approach the given task without negativity and just a focus to get it done.
In step with number 2, 4, and 5 (and maybe, sometimes number 1, 4, and 6!) I am implementing project COMMENT COMMIT.
The objective is simple, let’s support each other’s exercise plans/goals though this busy, food-full, family-full, and potentially stressful time of year.
Here’s how it works, each morning this week I will post my exercise plan for the day (which will follow these guidelines) and YOU will post your plan as a comment.
My evening post will include how I accomplished my exercise plan and YOU will post your accomplishments as a comment.
We will create a little accountability and support for each other, it’s an early Christmas present from me to you and from you to me!
Rules:
Keep it low-stress.
When writing down your plan for the day take into account your other obligations and your energy level.
You certainly don’t have to participate every day. If you don’t log your exercise that night, you can always do it the next day.
No amount of exercise is too small to be included! Maybe your daily goal is simply to move around more (get up from your desk every 30 minutes or 3 sets of workjacks).
COMMENT COMMIT FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 13TH
- 20 minutes or more of full body strength training
- walk (no minimum, just to get outside)
- yoga (no minimum, will wait and see how I feel)
I’ll let you know tonight how this goes!
