How To Make Movement Happen This Year
You may have a certain ‘thing’ you want to make happen this year. A new habit, a new way of eating or whatever it is. I’m going to use movement in this example.
Make it non-negotiable: Don’t Wait For Motivation
We do things like brush our teeth, go to work and eat - none of these require motivation because they are basically non-negotiable. If you are struggling to get to the gym or go for a walk, its not ‘how do I get motivated to do this’ but ‘how do I make it non-negotiable?’ We need to figure out ways to get it done anyways, even when we don’t feel like doing it.
If you’re looking for more movement or mobility in your lifestyle, start wearing a more minimal shoe, your feet have no choice but to move more. If you have less furniture to sit on, you have no option but getting all the way up and down off of the floor. If you’re mugs are on the top shelf, you have to reach up when you get coffee. No motivation required.
Make It Doable: Easy, Fun, or Both
Its a lot easier to do something small then to take on something big. E.g. I’ve been working on nervous system regulation to sleep better. The full routine takes about 20 minutes (which seems like a huge chunk of time). I have a few things to check off that routine (2-5 min of: breathwork, reading, washing my face) rather than doing the full session, I do a shortened version.
You will notice you will be far more consistent because you have a shorter option. And the more consistent you are, the more you will create space for the longer practices too. Having it all planned out in advanced helps to know exactly what to do when its time for the next thing, no time wasted figuring things out.
Make movement more fun by walking with a friend, take a movement class with your partner, or do CARS with your mom. Fun isn’t frivolous, its strategic. When it feels good to do it, you’ll actually do it more.
Get Clear On Your Whys
Everyone’s ‘why’ is different and you can have a plethora of them, and they can change. Its not just big adventures you loose out on or having time to build memories with your kids. Its things we take for granted like squatting in the garden, kneeling, walking to the coffee shop, getting your heavy kitchen mixer off of the shelf, getting down onto the floor to play with the grandkids.
For me, I want both independence and freedom. And on the days when it feels like it would be way easier to skip a strength workout or a movement session, it helps to remember those two reasons!
