This week I didn’t film any of my workouts but I still wanted to share a little progress because these small wins help me reach my main goal of 150 minutes of exercise per week.
Exercise has been tough during late fall and early winter
I’ve been practicing footbag still, and I finally hit five in a row! What’s funny is that the improvement wasn’t physical as much as it was mental. I’m learning to stay relaxed instead of planning ahead for each kick. And when I stay relaxed, I enjoy it more. Suddenly two or three hits per attempt feels normal, and every once in a while I surprise myself with four or five. It’s such a simple little activity, but it teaches coordination, balance, and patience. These three skills that spill over into the rest of my life.
I also brought my 8-pound grippy medicine ball to my dad’s house so I can sneak in a few quiet exercises before dinner or before settling in for an evening of music-making or movie-watching. It’s such a smart little strategy: if I know I’ll be sitting a lot later, I try to move a bit beforehand. It’s nothing dramatic. Just lumberjacks, rows, or balance drills. It makes such a difference.
These tiny choices keep me feeling active, even on days packed with blogging work or extended family activities like movie nights. That’s a good reminder for anyone trying to exercise more.
You don’t need a perfect routine or a big block of time to stay active.
My winter exercise days often just involve a footbag in the yard. Some days it’s a medicine ball beside the couch. Some days it’s just a ten-minute yoga routine using Daily Yoga app on my phone (I still love that) so my body remembers to stay loose and firm at the same time.
If something makes you feel good, try to weave it into the edges of your day. I like doing shoulder and arm circles during commercials for example. I decided to prop up my phone and take a chance – I managed to capture a few more moves I did before sitting down to write this!
And remember, all these little moments add up. For me and also for you.
