Staying Physically Intact
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Use it or lose it, keeping physically intact.
We’re living in an age where sitting for hours on end is pretty standard. A lot of us work from home, parked at our desks or couches for extended periods, and while that can have its perks, it’s can also take a toll on our bodies.
Move your body, it’s that simple. Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. You don’t need an intense hour-long workout to stay physically intact. Something is better than nothing, you just need to move.
“Move your body, it’s that simple. Even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.”
Movement doesn’t have to be a big production.
I’m no fitness instructor, but I can tell you that moving your body, even for short periods, is important and helpful.
For me personally, sometimes being consistent or finding any time for exercise can be really tough. An extremely helpful mindset shift for me was the adjustment that doing something physical and staying active doesn’t have to mean changing into workout clothes, leaving my house, and doing an involved 30-minute session of exercise.
Simple, short bursts of movement throughout the day can make a huge difference.
The power of setting a timer.
Here’s a trick I use often: set an alarm to go off every hour or two. When it goes off, take just a couple/few minutes to move your body. It could be as simple as doing 20 squats, 10 sit-ups or pushups, or just doing some quick stretches.
The beauty of this is that it doesn’t take much time or effort, but the impact is real. Those tiny, frequent movements help keep your blood and joints moving and give your body a break from literally sitting for hours on end in almost the same position every day. It might sound trivial, but it matters and it can be SO EASY.
“Sure, doing a couple of squats every hour might not seem like a life-changing decision today, but when you look at it over months and years, it makes a difference.”
Start with simple stretches like reaching your arms overhead, bending over to touch your toes, or even just getting up and going for a quick 5 minute walk. If you’re not sure what to do, you can hop on the internet or YouTube and quickly find a billion simple, useful stretches.
Do this two or three times a day, and over time your body will thank you. It’s a “move it or lose it” kind of thing. Sure, doing a couple of squats every hour might not seem like a life-changing decision today, but when you look at it over months and years, it makes a difference.
The longer you go without moving, the more your body starts to get used to not moving. Regular movement, no matter how small, is great for your joints, muscles, and overall physical well-being.
Don’t overthink it, just move.
I think it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that exercise needs to be a huge commitment, but it doesn’t. It’s a perfectly fine goal to keep your body active and engaged, especially vs doing nothing at all. You don’t have to go nuts to benefit from being more physically active.
“Little moments of activity add up, and before you know it, your body feels more energized, less stiff, and overall a bit healthier.”
It could be doing five or ten push-ups during a break or standing up and stretching at your desk. Little moments of activity add up, and before you know it, your body feels more energized, less stiff, and overall a bit healthier.
Stay intact.
The world is busy, and sometimes it feels impossible to take time out of your day for anything resembling exercise. But reframing your thinking that even when we’re short on time you can get up and move intentionally, especially if it’s just for a couple minutes. Small, simple things add up over time and make a difference in the long run.
So, take care of your physical health, even when you're caught up in the grind. Your future self will thank you:)
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This article was created by Galen Emanuele for the #culturedrop. Free leadership and team culture content in less than 5 minutes a week. Check out the rest of this month's content and subscribe to the Culture Drop at https://bit.ly/culturedrop
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