No prizes for guessing the top male suggestion for having spare time on your *ahem* hands! Their lists seemed to be about earning money and not having to spend it on a date, hitting the gym, playing Xbox ... Whereas the female lists were about pampering yourself, meditating, turning your music up and dancing around your flat. Are we really so 2 dimensional?
But here is a list I've come up with:
- Do the C25K thing and actually feel fitter
- Get back in to my art journal
- learn to draw
- research world music for next September
- practise my 'cello
- find local art exhibitions (and actually go to them)
- play on the wii
- play WoW
- get making again.
- arrange craft days with friends
- go swimming (ok, not free but affordable)
There's probably more, but that'll do for now. Any suggestions always welcome :-)
One thing I'm doing is exploring my neighbourhood. I go for a walk every weekend, rain or shine. I started this in January as a way to get some exercise, to get me out of bed on a weekend morning - I generally try to set out before 8am - and to help overcome some mild SAD. I always set out from my front door, and the habit has helped me to understand and appreciate my locality as its own place, not just the spot in which fate dumped me, rather against my wishes. Usually I don't walk very far - sometimes only 4 miles, sometimes 10 - and I've found all sorts of beautiful and interesting local sights: lakes, woods, rivers and streams, buildings, commons, wildlife. Highly recommended. Rather to my surprise, and without any pressure on my part, each of my children has accompanied me a few times.
ReplyDeleteI'm really put off C25K because running isn't my thing at all. I am doing the 5BX exercise program, though.
Also: baking.
That's a great idea, Nick. I'd seen your photos on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI've started the C25K not because I like running but because I can. My bike was stolen before Christmas, so cycling's out. I have trainers and gym gear so running it is. And I guess that as I approach this birthday I'm more and more aware that if I remain unfit my health will deteriorate as I age.
What's 5BX?
5BX stands for "5 basic exercises", and was developed by the Canadian air force in the 50s. It's 11 minutes each day, made up of stretching (2 mins), sit-ups (1 min), back extensions (1 min), push-ups (1 min), and running on the spot with aerobic jumps (6 mins). One can substitute a timed run or walk for the running-on-the-spot. One works one's way gradually up six charts, each with twelve levels, although ordinary mortals will never arrive at charts five and six. Each chart makes each exercise more intense (e.g. the sit-up starts as a small crunch on chart one, becomes what I might call "a proper sit-up" by chart three, and is some sort of jack-knife impossibility on chart six). Each level in a chart (from D- to A+) gives a higher number of each exercise. Level D- on chart one is true couch-potato stuff (e.g. three small crunches in a minute).
ReplyDeleteThe rubric is very clear that one must start on chart one, level D+, and progress at a specified age-dependent rate (at least 7 days per level for me), although I've totally ignored that. There's an age-dependent target level (chart three, level C for me), which I am also ignoring.
I started it a couple of months ago and I'm currently at level A of chart two (although I cheat on the back extensions, because I just can't do even a single one of the illustrated movements), and feeling much fitter and stronger as a result. Joe started about a month ago, has caught up with me, and suddenly has muscles etc.
The two key reasons it works for me are (a) it's every day, as I get out of bed, no question; (b) the first exercise each day is some easy stretching, so I can trick my lazy side into doing it.
The original book is available here: http://gregsadetsky.com/_files/5bx-plan.pdf
There's also an 'XBX' program for women (this was the 50s), but that is generally agreed to be a total joke.
Hmmm... I might look at this 5BX thing, sounds like my kind of thing!
ReplyDeleteMary, other ideas: walking, geo-caching, reading, pottering around the shops, growing stuff (even on windowsills), meeting friends!!
Don't know if that helps?
Oh, and of course - blogging!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I found it helpful to book myself onto various workshops etc so there was always something coming up to look forward to and get a bit of shape to my free 'me' time.
I love geocaching. Haven't done any for a while. That's a plan for the next dry day :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat is geocaching?
ReplyDeleteI used to do a bit of the 5BX thing (or, I think, I had the lady version). I'd forgotten about that, good idea. These days, is there an easier way to keep track than my dusty old paperback which is falling apart?
Geocaching is a global treasure hunt using GPS. http://www.geocaching.com/
ReplyDeleteYou have a look on the website for caches in the area you want to hunt, set the coordinates and go searching. Some are easy, some incredibly hard. They often have clues. What you find will vary in size from a tiny metal capsule with a roll of paper inside to record your name/username, to a lunchbox-sized airtight container with goodies to swap, like key-rings, small plastic toys etc. You can even buy special tags with a unique number that you can then track across the globe :-)
It's particularly good with children as it encourages them to walk further they often would choose to.