“We do not stop exercising because we grow old; we grow old because we stop exercising.” K. Cooper

 

I move

because if I don’t

fat conglomerates in body and mind

life becomes joyless and stagnant

creating a road to unhappiness and poor health

I have broken the monotony of

s-e-d-e-n-t-a-r-i-n-e-s-s

that work has demanded of me

 

muscles now fire up

the heart pumps beats of delight

mind blooms with synapses of jubilation

wheels spinning

inspiring and encouraging

habits that promote

health and happiness

 

 

 

 

 

I was a acute care nurse for 18 years. A lack of fulfilment, due to increasing work load demands, left me exhausted and stressed out. I do however, miss the movement that acute nursing provided.

Now I am a home care nurse – WHICH I LOVE – with one exception. It has led to being more sedentary.  I sit too much, at a desk or in my car. Clogging my own and the world’s arteries.

I have always found time to play in the outdoors outside of work. Without the forest runs I would not be a sane person. Regardless of this extra time for other activities, the sedentariness of work was causing aches and pains I had never had before. Time to find a solution and make a change.

So I have purchased a cargo electric assist bike. I am now spinning into wellness as I commute between clients’ homes.

Many are skeptical and ask, “doesn’t it take more time?”. The reality is that I have been able to get to where I need to be within 5 minutes of what it took in my car. A few times I even beat a driving co worker to the same home. Plus – parking is a non issue!

I would not be able to do it without the cargo space; I carry a lot of supplies. I also need the electric assist due to the many hills where I live. Assist or not, my legs are always moving.

The following is a great video addressing the hidden health risks of a sedentary life style.

 

I am already seeing the results after doing this for just a few weeks. The emotional, physical and mental stress that can result from my job is releasing with each pedal stroke. Movement creates a healthy body, mind and spirit.

My carbon footprint is less. If Glory can carry it (of course I named her), I bike to get myself around the city when not working as well. With the continued threats on planet earth, every little bit helps.

Life is rich and full with many demands.  If we do not show compassion and care for our own well being, it becomes more difficult to care for all the others in our lives. The burdens are greater, all those demands become arduous, and the stressors immobile us.

It can be tough to find the time and we can make numerous excuses.  It is said, best to get out of your own way to make change happen. Put those excuses to the side and find a solution.

So I have broke the sedentariness of my daily routine at work with cycling.  Changing my routine to make it happen, when I can.

What do you already do to incorporate exercise into your daily routine? Or how will you change to promote a healthier body, mind and spirit?

“The groundwork of all happiness is health”  L. Hunt