I challenge you to take control of your life and health over the next 30 days. With the holiday season approaching, many of us tend to throw our diet and workout efforts out the window, but it shouldn’t be this way. Our bodies need care 365 days a year, and with all stress and eating associated with holidays, it just doesn’t make sense to hit pause at this time.
Hence, I reiterate – I challenge you.
For the next 30 days, I want you to pick one exercise and do it once – or twice – a day. Better yet, I want you to increase that exercise, by length of time or by number of repetitions, on a daily or weekly basis.
A bit confused? Let me explain…
Aside from being a fitness instructor, I am also a writer, which means I am glued in front of a computer for nine hours a day. Alongside my editor, we decided that enough was enough, and we should take control of this sitting situation. So for the month of October, we are planking twice a day. So far we have gone one week holding a plank for one solid minute two times a day. Trust me, it isn’t easy, but wow, do you feel great afterwards! It’s like an instant energy boost and it immediately helps refocus.
Now I’m not saying you have to necessarily get down on the floor and plank. There are actually so many office- or home-friendly exercises you can complete without any equipment. For example, we are planning on going through November by completing wall sits. This is done by basically keeping your back flat to the wall and positioning yourself as if you are sitting on a chair. For December, we chose squats, amping up the number of squats we do daily. It really isn’t that hard. The biggest decision you have to make is picking an exercise and sticking to it.
We complete our exercises at 10:15am and 3:15pm, which is a nice break in-between work rounds. You can make whatever schedule you like, too, as long as you can stick with it. Better yet, set an alarm or reminder so you are prompted to get up and complete the task at hand. It is so easy to forget, especially if you are in the middle of something important. But what is really important is that you take that brief minute for yourself and do something good for your body.
I hope you take on this 30-day challenge as a fun, easy, and consistent way to keep yourself in shape before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season takes over. No one can do it for you but you, so why not take on the challenge and do yourself some good!
Until next week,
Emily Lunardo