Our default is “easy”

I dropped big kiddo off at school today and decided to walk the block and a half from the school to the library with little kiddo. It took us 30 minutes. We weren’t in a rush. Time stands still when 1. it’s a beautiful day, 2. your company is an inquisitive almost-two-year-old, and 3. you’re running early (NOT my default).

We stopped to look at a LOT of ants. Some of them lived to tell the tale.

We said hello to every person we saw, and waved to all the trucks.

We spent some time looking at the water in the river (from the safe lowest level of the climbable railing: teachable moment!). She looks into the water now, not just at the surface reflections… “Mama! Ish!”. (we’re working on the fffffffff sound… she’s got other interests).

We went down the stairs next to the bridge 3 times, because once isn’t enough when you’re acquiring new skills and she knows this far better than I.

We walked on the rocks beside the path instead of on the flat and level concrete, because her little feet seek out this variation. Since I’ve begun to notice this desire, mine seek the variation too.

We walked on the grass, and on fallen pinecones and branches that were everywhere because of the windstorm last weekend, delighting in the variation underfoot.

She climbed a big rock all by herself and was so (rightfully) proud of herself.

And then I picked her up (as she flailed and protested) to hurry up and not be late.

I’ve only got the one picture, because I was having too much fun to pull out my phone.

When you walk with a little, you get lots of time. This time can be spent buried in a phone, or it can be spent noticing and participating.

Three minutes into our walk, I adjusted the strap on my bag because it was bumping uncomfortably against my knee which I apparently haven’t noticed in the 5 years I’ve had it. I put it on my “other” shoulder, because, why not?

A big a-ha for me last week was how much stronger my obliques (side abdominal muscles) are than my rectus abdominals (front abdominal muscles). I realized that I always carry bags/kiddos to the side, so I spent some time carrying the diaper bag straight out in front of me. RA activation, check! (and also, why is this bag so heavy?? It was much heavier in front than to the sides. Noted).

I squatted down beside her to look at the ants. I climbed the bottom rail with her to look at the river, sort of. I was up and down those stairs three times too. My feet got texture, they stood on top of boulders, and they ran when I checked the time and it was 9:29 and we weren’t there yet.

Is it hard to be 30 minutes early? YES.

Is it easy to want to run errands with extra time that magically appears? YES.

Is it even easier to sit in the car catching up on email while throwing snacks at the child to burn a few minutes? Oh, yes. Far too easy.

We’re really good at easy. We’re adapted: evolutionarily, mentally, and socially to default to easy.

But, you work at a desk. You don’t have time to spend looking for fish in rivers on sunny mornings. It’s hopeless. Might as well sit still then. Much easier.

Easy is our default. But, it’s also a choice. Don’t get me wrong. There’s a time and a place for easy. The thing is–easy often comes at a cost that we don’t consider. And, SO often, more often that you are aware of, that cost is movement.

Sitting at a desk doesn’t need to be done in stillness. It doesn’t need to be “easy”. You can be moving and also be productive. In fact, you might be MORE productive, because you’re moving.

Here are some mindful options for movement at your desk:

• Change how you sit whenever you think of it. I’m full of ideas for this, so comment below if you need some hints.
• Change how long you sit for. Set a timer and get up for 5 minutes every 30. It’s better for your health, body, productivity, and eyesight (there is actually scientific evidence to back up these claims, in case you need to justify non-pee-break breaks to your supervisor). (An aside: in one of my previous lifetimes, I worked at a restaurant where everyone else smoked. I didn’t smoke, but I sure noticed how often the smokers took their smoke breaks–above and beyond their scheduled breaks. So, one day, I told my boss I was going to start taking “fresh air” breaks. He couldn’t say no. Win.)
• When you’re not sitting, find every opportunity you can to make sure your feet are not on a flat and level surface. Can you take phone calls standing up? Try that! Keep a rock tray handy, or a rolled up towel. Set up an obstacle course for your feet with whatever you can find lying around on it, and invite your boss to join in (I joke. Only a little).
• For that matter, even (especially?) when you ARE sitting… find every opportunity you can to make sure your feet are not on a flat and level surface (this is important enough to say twice.). Keep a tennis ball or small rock under your desk. Take your shoes off, and use the ball or rock to mobilize the bones in your feet.
• Don’t keep your eyes glued to your screen. Look up, look across the room, look out the window. On your 5 minute break, get up and FIND a window if there isn’t one you can see from your desk. Look as far away as you can and count the birds, planes, trees, etc. you can see. Look FAR.
• Whatever you do… if you sit at your desk all day–try your very very best to not sit during your breaks. At the very least, don’t sit on a chair. Perch against a counter, sit on the floor, or stand awkwardly in the corner. Convince a friend to join you–then it’s a conversation starter and you’re not just the odd one out (nothing wrong with that either, I’m pretty used to it by now!). Go outside, walk around the building. Find some texture for your feet!
• Change your shoes–your feet are shaped by what you put on them. Different shoes, different shape.

I could go on.

This is how you move more.

You need to look for the variety, and you need to work for it a little sometimes. It’s not always easy, but the payoff is huge. For more ideas, and to get a better idea of my philosophy and how I incorporate empowered movement into my life every day, sign up to receive notifications of new blog posts, or follow me on Facebook (@moveanew) or Instagram (@moveanew). If you like what you read and see, please check out my offerings. This work changes lives. Happy, healthy moving!