2005 Tip #6:
TIME and Time-Out

What will it be this weekend?

A walk around the block?  A hike in a nearby open space?  Some gardening?  Tackling the winter weeds in the yard?  A run?  Basketball? A bike ride?  Tennis?  Racquet ball? A trip to the gym?  Dancing?

It’s coming soon !  What plans do we have to optimize our enjoyment of this weekend “timeout” from our weekday work schedule?

Planning ahead helps.  Visualizing the time we will dedicate to some physical activity we will find satisfying.  Finding something fun!  Committing to that time!

Spring is around the corner!

Today sunrise was 6:28 a.m. and sunset will be 6:10 p.m.

Tomorrow sunrise is 6:26 a.m. and sunset is 6:11 p.m.   Minutes more of daylight = 3.  By the weekend, we’ll have another 10 minutes!

If you haven’t “got going” yet – or aren’t doing as much as you’d like to – start up this weekend – even with 10-15 minutes of your preferred activity.  Aim for 2 to 3 times per week.  Then, as spring goes to summer, move up to 3 to 4 times per week at 15-20 minutes.  Taking small steps works best for most of us.  Gradually building up our strength and endurance works best. 

If we’re already doing 3 to 4 days a week of some good exercise, go to the next level or 30 to 40 minutes of some movement that pumps the heart muscle. 

Wherever we are at now, doing more will help us maintain our balance, build our energy and confidence, and enable us to better enjoy our meals while maintaining our weight goals.

Ben Franklin weighs in with a timely question:

“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that is the stuff life is made of.”  (from Poor Richard’s Almanac, June)