Confession time: Somedays I feel lazy.
This doesn't mean I AM lazy, nor does it mean I sit on the couch all day in my pajamas (usually) but it does mean that I feel like it. Some days I just want to sit on my couch with a coffee and watch the distruction of my house from the safety of raised feet and blankets. Unfortionately, this creates a horrible circular pattern.
I sit around too long before I get moving and I feel groggy, tired, and maybe even get a tiny headache. This makes me feel less like I want to do anything, so I don't, then I feel worse. By bedtime a day on the couch can make me feel like I need a week in bed to recover.
Solution: Get up and DO something
Here are a few things you can do when you dont' want to do anything. They will make you feel better, have more energy, and maybe even want to do more things.
- Walk. Start with just a trip to the kitchen or bathroom, then try to walk more, even just around the house.
- Go outside. Get the mail. Walk the dog. Drop off your books at the library. It really doesn't matter, even sitting on the porch or balcony gets fresh air into your lungs and helps.
*For weeks I would get up and have breakfast then go for a walk outside. Even just 15 mins. I found I felt great, got more done, and my daughter needed the outside time too. We need to get use out of that bike I just bought and she's already outgrowing, daily walks are a good way to do it!
-Eat an apple. I know it sounds simple and funny, but it's a great thing to do. I find especially when my health issues act up an apple can make a huge differnce! It has sugars to increase your blood sugar levels, but with "healthy" sugars. It's also a process, can become habitual, and is just good for you. That extra sugar might help you get moving too, as well as helping you move farther away from dehydration.
-Drink more water. I know, everyone says it. It really does help though. Dry skin? Drink more water. Chapped lips? Drink more water. Groggy? Water. I also recommend coffee, but that's another point...
-Guilty pleasure. Just pick one thing you enjoy that you feel you shouldn't do every day, then do it. Eat a rolo, drink a cup of coffee, read a chapter in your book. It may feel like wasted time for a while, but if you do them in small doses then you won't overdo it later, and they actually make you just a little happier, which makes everyone feel better.
-Stretch. This could include yoga or stretching like a cat every morning, a warm up from a work out you liked... Anything really. Just get up and stretch. It's good for the muscles, helps you warm up, keep mobile, lossens knots, and helps the blood flow. It's proven in a bunch of medical stuff I won't quote, but also, I enjoy it and it helps me :)
-Laugh until your tummy hurts. Yes, I said tummy, maybe that'll help get you started :)
_Dance. It helps increase heartrate and warm up your muscles and just get your body used to movine. It's great to do with the kids too, they love it and it keeps them from pulling out a million toys, even if it's just for a minute.
Those are my top recommendations for things you can do today to make yourself feel better. Do them every day to see your productivity increase as well as improve your mood and overall health. It's not much, but it's a start, and the more you do the more you will want to do.