Tips To Get Some Action in Your Life

Lots of times, when interviewing and being interviewed by prospective clients, I run into the “yes, but.” They want to live a healthier lifestyle, and they know it will involve making lifestyle changes. BUT, (fill in the blank here – your schedule’s too busy, you’re swamped with work, the kids, the travel…)

First of all, give yourself a big clap on the back for recognizing that if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you’ll need to make some lifestyle changes. And that’s as much coddling as you’ll get there, because let’s face it, those are excuses. Right? Or, at best, you have prioritizing issues.

So here’s what you do. I know this because I’ve been there: You make the commitment to put activity back in your life, and hit the ground practically sprinting. You work out seven days in a row, hard core. And a few years later, you realize that your life is patterned around having this strange, two month bouts of intense activity, at the end of which you pulled something, and you need to take a break.

Sound familiar? I thought so.

Small changes, friends. Start slow, work up. We are not children anymore.

Start by being realistic about your day-to-day activity level. How active are you, and what openings do you have in an average day to put in some exercise? You want to be as active as possible without getting hurt. That’s the goal. This, of course, depends on where you are in life: Raising kids, flat-out career-mode; free time on weekdays or weekends. Here’s a few pointers to get started:

For those of you who sit at a computer most of the day:

• STAND UP. Get up every half hour or so, if you can.

• Stretch; move around. Stretch your hands; pinwheel your arms around.

• Take the stairs, not the elevator. (For those of you above the 10th floor: Plan walkups for days when you’re not schlepping too much STUFF.)

• Talk a walk at lunch, especially if you eat at your desk.

• Look at your calendar, and find a time (include drive time) for an hour at the gym for weight training, or pilates, or yoga, or cardio. Repeat for at least 2 other days each week; preferably more. STOP. Do this right now. 



For those of you who are stay-at-home Moms and Dads:

• Go for a walk with the kid(s). Pop that little one into a jogging stroller and hit the trail.

• Don’t just go to the park – play at the park. For starters, who doesn’t love the swings? Great way to stretch your legs and your back