Session Nine Using Physical Activity Tool

If I could truly believe in my own power to create a healthy, thriving life; if I believed I could create a life that served my happiness and the happiness of those around me, what would I do with this moment? Who would I be?

Who will I be today to make my life better?

Feeling Observation
This week’s take-home tool is Mild exercise. I want to stress again to not do strenuous exercise here.
You run the risk of injury if you work the muscles while they are in a state of tension. So, keep it light.

Go for a walk or take a few moments to stretch when you are stressed. In addition, try adding Yoga, Tai Chi, or Chi Gong to your schedule for just 20 minutes a day. I’ve included a log above. Try to use that to track how you feel before and after your practices. You can print it out or take notes below.

What difference do you notice between how you feel before your practice and how you feel after?

The second practice I recommend this week is chores and yard work. It offers us the opportunity to physical work and also stimulates positive chemicals in the brain. You can do dishes, pick up around the house, or get your hands in the dirt. Many people clean or work in the yard to calm their nerves. This is no different.

Try doing just one small task at a time. It doesn’t need to be a lot to trigger healthy, success chemicals in the brain. Clutter in your house and in your mind caused by incomplete tasks cause stress and subconscious feelings of failure. By accomplishing something, even something small, you increase your feelings of success and soothes the mind.

When relaxing at home, I suggest doing one small task every time I stand up to go to the kitchen or bathroom. Pick up a few things or wash a couple of dishes. Dust one area of the room, or clear some clutter. Before long, you’ll be accomplishing more and feeling a lot better
Remember to use your log for this practice. This is where most people see significant results through very little effort. If you would like to use this tool as your daily practice, just pick one area of your house and set a timer for twenty minutes.

If the timer goes off and you want to continue, you can. Just be careful not to go too far. Your brain might avoid it the next time if you don’t show it you will create limits on how long you work. Also, it can be fun to see what spending just 20 minutes a day on a task accomplishes. By the end of the week, you’ll be amazed.

Take notes below on what tasks have the strongest impact on your thoughts, moods, and overall sense of well-being. Save them and try using them when you are triggered.

As you continue through the week, play with your practices. Try different things and take notes in your log. Try using all of your take-home tools. Compare to find which tools work best for you and list them below. Be sure to save your answers by clicking “Finish Practice.”

We’ll be using them in Session Eleven to complete a Practice Sheet.