A couple weeks ago Tambra blogged about keeping your muse active with tips such as making sure your writing area fosters your creativity, learning to say no, and basically giving yourself a break if you need it. As women and writers, this advice is golden.
I thought I’d take this a little further. Getting a few extra minutes exercising a day is a big part of what keeps my writing energy going. With the economy the way it is, everyone is cutting back, including my family so a gym membership is out of the question. The best form of low impact exercise I’ve found is simply walking. It’s free and it’s easy for people of all levels of fitness. Not only does it tone your legs and butt, it can assist in shaping your abdominal muscles if you clench your stomach while you walk. I also use this uninterrupted time to focus on my current WIP or if I'm having a trouble with a plot point, sometimes I have a revelation during these walks.
Another free way to keep active is to bike. I use the bike I’ve had for the past five years so technically it’s not free, because I did buy it at one time. But, if you’re looking for an inexpensive bike try craigslist or your local newspaper. I usually get in one or two biking days a week. Luckily my CP lives close so I get extra time to chat with her while we bike and I forget I’m even exercising.
In February I realized I’d hit a plateau with my workouts. I was getting bored and starting to slack off so I found an inexpensive Kathy Smith DVD on Amazon (I love that woman!) to input aerobics into my weekly workouts and it’s really increased my posture and energy. Combined with walking and biking, it keeps my week fresh and all for about $7.
For a while I tried running with my husband but have come to the realization that he is some sort of machine and no matter what I do, I’ll never truly keep up with him and that I’m better off jogging or walking with my trusty iPod instead of a drill sergeant. Once I realized that I had to carve out my own schedule and do what was right for me, exercising became more fun. There isn’t one schedule or workout that works for everyone and that’s important to remember.
As women, I know we sometimes tend to take care of everyone else first and ourselves last so please find the time to take care of yourselves ladies! Thirty minutes a day is possible for everyone. I’m definitely not some workout nut with a perfect body (not even close). I’ve just found that staying active truly helps harness my creativity and I always feel a hundred times better even after a short walk. It must be those endorphins! What do you do to stay healthy? Any tips that are affordable for everyone?
13 comments:
I love Exercise TV On Demand. More free workouts than you could do in a month and they add new ones all the time!
I've found that my word count is directly proportional to the amount of aerobic activity I'm doing. I recently started the C25K running program along with some slow and heavy weight lifting. As I suspected, my ADD is in check and my concentration improved. I'm not at all surprised that our muse is often best inspired while our body is pumping endorphins! Even better, I'm losing lots and lots of weight. Yeah baby! :D
Great post and one I'm glad you dug a bit deeper into!
Kristen - I don't have cable but if I did I'd be all over that!
Liane - it's so true. The more I exercise, the faster I output ;)
The downside of living in a place where winter means non-stop rain is the havoc it plays with my walking routine. This year I was lucky enough to discover Yoga to the People a donation-based business that offers some of the toughest yoga routines I've ever taken. Whew.
The plus side--apart from getting to feel really virtuous about not slacking off--is that exercise is the best antidote to writer's block that I know of.
PG - I sometimes take for granted that I live in the Sunshine State. It's definitely easier to get outside more often. Yoga to the People sounds really cool!!
This is advice I need to take! Maybe I'll start taking some walks to jumpstart the muse...
It is true we do tend to put everyone else first. We should all learn to take more time for ourselves. Our families would benefit from it more than running ourselves to the ground.
gardening is great exercise - 300cals per hour and 600 cals per hour if you do heavy digging plus you can grow your own food - a win win situation
I need to make it more of a routine and less of a chore to do. Believe it or not, I used to be a total workout junkie...but those days are gone! I miss pilates. First chance I get, I'll re-enroll. I just need to do it when things settle down.
A beautiful and inspiring post, Liane. I turned on my elliptical trainer but am at the computer. LOL I am going to head into the exercise room now.
Hugs, JJ
What a great post, Katie! Walking and getting fresh air is still free in this economy. Yay!
I love running, and though I go really slow and walk part of the way, it's just a great time to clear my head and get outside. Also, I get some of my best ideas on the run when I'm thinking of nothing at all with my music blaring.
I have a basics of belly dancing/bhangra video. I really need to get that back out and start back up.
Thanks for the reminder, Katie!
Hugs,
Tambra
I can't think when I sit still too long, so going for a walk, or doing something active, is essential to my creative process. I'm no fitness nut but I do believe in the healthy mind, healthy body idea.
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