If in doubt, move!

December 1, 2024

Stiffness, achiness, depression, anxiety and pain may cause us to become less mobile. But being less mobile can negatively impact our sleep, mood, appetite, balance, and strength, and even cause more achiness, stiffness and pain. It feels counterintuitive to move more when we feel pain or fatigue, but often it is the answer to decreasing pain or increasing our energy levels.

It’s helpful to remind ourselves that we were built to move. We weren’t built to sit on a couch for hours, sit at a desk for hours or sit in a car for hours. Although our modern lifestyle has normalized sitting for long periods of time, this does not support our health.

If we aren’t used to a regular routine of exercise, we need to make it very intentional until it becomes part of our regular routine. The benefits of exercise have such an impact on our health that I decided to only write about exercise for this article in the hopes of getting you to move more.

One of the reasons exercise is vital to our health has been studied extensively. Studies show that having more muscle is linked to living longer. Not only do we live better but we live longer. Building muscle is also very helpful to support joint health because it prevents us from putting extra stress on our joints.

Here are some tips to remember if you are struggling with getting started or staying at it consistently. And it is okay to change it up every month if you find you get bored easily. Some of us love routine and don’t need change and some of us thrive on change. My guess is you need to change things seasonally if you find it hard to stay consistent.

TIPS FOR MOVING MORE

1. Commit

Make the commitment to exercise. Join a class and register for an online workout program. Some of us are more likely to exercise if we commit to someone else or pay for a class. Know that exercise becomes more difficult in the winter months. Expect this, and prepare for it.

2. Plan

Plan your exercise and make it non-negotiable. Look at your schedule and decide when you will move. Whether it is household chores, walking, doing a home workout, coaching, or going to a gym, decide when it will happen and commit to it like you would a doctor’s appointment.

3. Value

Value exercise. If you don’t value movement, you won’t move enough to sustain good health. Ask yourself when was the last time you exercised consistently (at least three days per week for 30 minutes or more for three months or more) and how you felt at that time. I am sure you were a healthier version of you. If you are struggling with mental illness, high cholesterol or blood pressure, sleep disturbances, excess weight, anxiety, depression or back pain, your health will improve with exercise.

4. Strive

Lastly, make decisions about your health based on the person you strive to be, NOT the person you are right now. Behave like the person you want to be, and you will become that person, which is most likely the best version of yourself.

If starting an exercise program makes you nervous because of your current state of health, start slowly and consider having a discussion with a healthcare practitioner. Your massage therapist, physiotherapist, naturopathic doctor, chiropractor, dietitian or medical doctor will know what is safe for you to start with.

Happy Holidays!
Dr. Glenna