Are you an active person? Not like some super athlete or even a marathon runner. Just in general, do you stay active with your body, mind, and heart? Trust me, I get it. It’s hard, there’s hardly ever time, and it’s not always the most fun.
But, like me, you probably realize the importance it plays in our lives. You probably know by now the benefits it brings to us mentally and physically, but it’s just not in the cards. Can you think of a specific reason that sometimes gets in the way?
Like being too busy with work and parenthood that it seems like you just really don’t have the time? Or because you’re juggling taking care of your kids and have conferences/meetings/games to attend? Or maybe it’s just simply because you have no idea where to start and don’t really want to get discouraged along the way?
Well, I’ve compiled a list of 6 things any of us can do to keep ourselves healthy and happy. And if you’re pressed for time like me, the best part is, these barely take any time out of your day, or even week! Trust me, you’ll feel so much more ready to tackle anything that comes your way once you’ve mastered these!
The 1st Law of Motion
Objects in motion tend to stay in motion. In this case, bodies in motion tend to do the same. I go on a walk every morning with my dogs. It’s the first thing I do every day. And you know what? When I get back from that walk, I’m ready to keep on moving!
This is when I get in my daily exercise. And you know what I do for exercise? I dance. I put on a YouTube video of some sort of 30-minute dance cardio routine. You know why? Dancing doesn’t feel like a workout as much as making myself do sets of push-ups and reps of crunches. It feels fun!
The best part? After I’ve walked my dogs and done my super-fly dance routine, not only am I more motivated to keep on moving, but I could also be done if I wanted to! 30 minutes a day of your body consistently moving is a lot better than none. So if you can find that time to get your body moving, do it! You’ll be a lot closer to a healthier, happier version of you – I promise.
P.S. – That was 2 of the ideas right there! Walk and dance. Or find an action that your body does like doing, and incorporate it into your life!
Where It All Begins
As we’ve all learned growing up, everything we do is controlled by our brains. Including the natural reflexes and impulses we have (aka breathing.) So, why is it advertised that our bodies are the only thing we should ‘work out’? Our brains are muscles! They need stretching and exercise to maintain.
One of the best ways to keep our brains active is reading. It allows us to recall words and their meaning from memory, but it also allows us to discover new meanings. It helps us grasp new concepts and express our creative side by imagining what we are reading. But there are also other ways too!
Lumosity and Elevate are a couple brain game apps I have. They are exactly what they sound like – Games for your brain. They help with things like memory recall, faster processing, and even having less tongue-tied scenarios. (Anyone else?) They are free and even help you track your progress and set new goals!
P.S. – That was another 2! Read and play games. Don’t tell me you don’t like playing games!
DON’T Be Still, My Beating Heart
Seems a little silly listing ways to keep your heart active, but in my opinion, it’s honestly one of the best ways we can live our lives to the fullest potential! Obviously, there’s no physical training I can list for you to exercise your heart. But there are ways to keep your heart feeling happily rejuvenated!
One is by volunteering any spare time that you do have at causes/charities that mean something to you. Even if it’s only once a week, or once a month, or even once a year! I have volunteered at an animal shelter, a food bank, and even participated in a WWF event. You have the power to be the person who makes a difference!
Another way to keep your heart active is to donate money to causes/charities that mean something to you. Again, even if it’s limited to how often you can do it, what you can do does make a difference! Be it through proceeds at a local food or drink vendor, or a personal donation, or whatever means you can think of!
P.S. – That was the last 2! Volunteer and donate. It feels even better when you pick a cause that means a lot to you!
*I want to take a moment to note that volunteering time or donations should not be compared to each other or made to feel like one is more beneficial than the other. There are some people who have more time to spare, and for others that could make all the difference. And vice versa.
How do you keep your body, mind, and heart active? Share some ideas in the comments below! You have the power to make a difference in someone’s life – including another Momma here! And check out ETM’s blog about finding what motivates you for some good ideas to stay active!
Thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community of Mommas! We encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:
With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth to Momma
