What kind of movement do you do on a typical day? Do you generally find movement joyful? Studies show that moving our body even in minimal amounts has many benefits to us. From as little as three minutes a day, you can see mental and physical health benefits. In fact, one of the simplest ways to boost your mood and increase your energy is through adding a little extra movement into your day and – you get an added health bonus if you can make it joyful! The trick is to be open and curious to find what activities you find joyful and then figuring out ways to incorporate that into your life. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy like joining a gym, as even activities like gardening or playing with your children or pets count as movement. People often find that adding music, nature, and/or a social component to movement makes it more joyful! So, instead of seeing exercise as work or punishment, simply play with incorporating movement that you find enjoyable into your day and reap the benefits of joyful movement!
Life Hack Reflections:
• What kind of movement feels enjoyable rather than forced?
• How does your body respond to joyful movement?
• When does movement help you feel most like yourself?
• What barriers make movement feel harder than it needs to be?
• How could you add more joy to movement this week?