Wellness Wednesday with Andrea: It All Counts: Movement Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

Playing Pickleball

For years, I had a very specific idea of what exercise was supposed to look like.

Go to the gym. Put on the workout clothes. Do the workout. Make it long enough and hard enough to “count.”

And if I didn’t get there?

I’d feel guilty.

Funny how something that is supposed to make us feel better can sometimes become another thing we think we’re failing at.

Over the years, I’ve changed the way I look at movement.

Movement is all around us

A 15–20 minute walk counts.

Gardening counts.

Washing the floors counts.

Taking the stairs counts.

Playing with your grandchildren counts.

Dancing around the kitchen while you make supper absolutely counts!

Sweeping the gym from all the flies counts (That was my morning task today😂!

Our bodies don’t know whether we're wearing workout clothes or whether our movement is being tracked on a watch. We don't have to turn every bit of activity into a formal workout.

And that realization can be incredibly freeing.

Find movement that brings you joy

I still enjoy exercising. I love being active, and yes, having a gymnasium in our old school certainly makes going to the gym rather convenient! 😂

But I no longer believe movement has to look a certain way.

Some days it might be a workout. Another day it might be pickleball, a walk outside, working in the garden or simply being active around the house.

What matters to me now is continuing to move my body so I can keep doing the things I love as I get older.

That’s vitality.

It isn't about perfection. It's about creating a life that supports the person you want to be five, ten or twenty years from now.

So here's your Wellness Wednesday challenge

Don't worry about whether you've done enough today.

Instead, ask yourself:

How can I move my body today in a way that feels good?

Then go do it—even if it's only for 15 minutes.

Put on some music and dance. Take the dog for a walk. Go outside and pull a few weeds. Play with your grandchildren. Stretch while you're watching television.

It all counts.

Because taking care of ourselves doesn't have to be complicated.

Sometimes we just need to move. ❤️

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From Wellness Wednesday and Future Self Friday to our adventures renovating and living in an old school, with the Monday at the Old School Series, you'll find a little bit of everything here.

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