BY MONIQUE BARTLETT
The New Year is here and you have had your fill of cookies, candies, cakes and turkey. Now it’s time to get back to your regular routine and start thinking about getting back in shape. It’s time to start thinking about working out again if you’ve fallen off the wagon or it’s time to up the ante and work out more often if you’ve only been working out sporadically.
Whether you are into working out at a gym, working out at home or just going for a walk, leave your phone alone and concentrate on what you are doing. Unless you are a brain surgeon, no one is going to miss you if you don’t answer your phone for thirty minutes to an hour. Instead of just exercising your fingers you can exercise your entire body and you will feel energized and refreshed once you’re done.
Life today has become so easy that we have everything at our fingertips. All we have to do is push a button here and push a button there. The only things that get any exercise are our fingers. Instead of reaching for your phone to answer it every five minutes or respond to emails or texts, why don’t you leave the phone alone during the time that you have allotted yourself for exercise. You’ll get more done and work out at a greater intensity.
Whether you’re at home or at work, why not leave your cell phone lying about so that you can hear it ring, but can’t reach into your pocket or purse and answer it. Make it so you actually have to stand up and walk a few steps before you can pick it up. Don’t make it so easy for yourself to be lazy. At least burn a few calories in the meantime by having to take a few steps to get to your phone.
Every little bit of effort makes a difference. While traveling in an elevator instead of just standing there and staring at the numbers going up or down, raise yourself onto your
toes and then back on your heels again until your reach your floor. Think about the results that you’re going to get. Every little bit helps especially these days since we are all short of time.
Whatever it takes, set the intention to get yourself into a regular routine and make yourself a priority. Don’t worry about how you will look to others or what you will miss if your phone isn’t beside you at all times. Think about how you will look and feel once you put in the time and effort and reach your goal. There’s no better time than now to start!