Sure, push-ups are good. So is walking. Good up and down stairs, dancing and rearranging the furniture will all help your primate body do its thing and use those muscles. Doing a little yoga from time to time, strenuous or leisurely, tensing and relaxing one muscle after the other, is good for the ol' body/mind.
However, it is important, IMPORTANT! Damnit! to do a different exercise. You have heard about it before. It is not that hard but it can be a challenge. Sit still and look at something without moving. That's it. That's all there is to it. You can do it. My great grandson can do it and he is only 12. You can do it. Really, you can.
Ok, you are willing to give it a try. You sit still and you look at a dot, a corner, a shadow, something. You don't move. Now what? Just keep doing it. How long?
There is a primitive outlook floating around that 8 hours straight is better for your brain than 8 minutes, rumored to be better than 8 seconds. Don't fall for it. Don't try to improve. Don't try to challenge yourself or to do better.
Get a kitchen timer or use the one on your stove. There may be one on your phone or iPad or other device. Set it for one minute and be still for that long.
You may want to fidget. You may itch here or there. Keep looking at your chosen point of focus. Be like a cat, watching a mouse hole. That mouse is your meal. You need the food. The mouse is fast and will bolt out of the hole. You only have one chance so do not wander off mentally to your taxes or the need for an oil change. Pay attention. One stupid minute. Grandma can do it. You can do it. When you find your bills or your evening out have come to mind, be happy. That is what a mind is supposed to do: give you alerts and ideas. Just return to your focus. Just return.
But persist. You can wait one stupid minute before doing your dusting or whatever. Train your attention. Keep it on the focus and return to the focus when you float off in la-la land.
As your attention gets trained, your mind can give you updates and notifications that are not part of you otherwise. It can inform you that you are not such a klutz as you thought. It help you notice that you have a choice in what to think about. It can alert you to stand up for a while and sit less. You'll be surprised at what the trained mind can do for you.
I am not advocating cyber psychology, Richard. I am begging politely for a minute of stillness. Can't you just give me a durned minute?
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
--
Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
