How to Stay Active When Your Hobbies Are Sedentary

Lesson #28

It’s finally February! The slog of January is real if, like me, you live in a climate where sunshine is scarce. So, let’s celebrate the slow approach of spring: grab a beverage and pull up a chair (or maybe stay standing?). This month’s focus is on how to stay active, especially during these long, dark months of winter!

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Word of the Month

AGOG

adjective: very excited about something

Example: Schoolchildren are agog at the mere mention of a snow day.

This word is fun to say and isn’t used often enough! 🤓

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a woman stretching while typing on a laptop and next to a stack of books

With the cold, dark days of winter in full swing, I’ve been grappling with the lack of movement in my life. I work from home (which I love), but I’m at my desk all day on a screen. When I’m not on my screen for work, I’m on my screen working on my novel, or I’m curled up in my favorite chair reading a novel. I spend a lot of my day sitting, both working and recreationally.

I’m not giving up these beloved hobbies because reading and writing are more than hobbies; they are a part of my lifestyle. I also love the freedom that working from home gives me, so I’m not giving that up either. Instead of giving something up, I want to find pockets of space in my day to fold more movement in.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with this. So, for this month’s post, I thought I’d share some habits I’ve been developing to help keep me moving.

1. Daily walks with my pup, Lucky. These are often short, 20-30 minute walks (especially on a cold or rainy day). I’ve found that even a little movement and fresh air is enough to reenergize me.

2. Working in time blocks. I set a timer throughout the entire day (typically in 30-minute increments) to remind myself to get up and move. The movement doesn’t have to be long (walk to the kitchen to get another coffee). Other times, I’ll do a chore like a load of laundry or just stretch for a few minutes.

3. Workout for Women app. I want to stay strong and flexible, so I’ve been incorporating 7+-minute workouts throughout the week using this app. Some of the moves are easy enough that I’ve started using weights too. The workouts are versatile and short enough that I can squeeze them in between obligations.

4. Chore a Day. I like a clean house, but I don’t like devoting loads of free time to clean it, especially a full day on the weekend. Instead, I’ve started cleaning just one thing a day. It doesn't even have to be a whole room. If it’s a busy work day, I might just dust one room or vacuum one floor. If I’m in the groove, I’ll clean a little more. Doing a chore daily serves as a movement break as well, so it’s a double win!

5. Under-the-desk mini bike. My new job involves several meetings where I’m off-camera just listening and talking notes. I got a mini bike for Christmas, so now, I’ve been able to turn these passive sitting times into active times.

6. Journaling. This might seem like the opposite of active movement time, but for the past few months, I’ve been writing in a wellness journal (I really like the Life & Apples brand) to track my progress and celebrate my wins. It’s not calorie counting (I’ve never been a fan of that). Instead, it’s all about setting intentions for the day and creating a healthy lifestyle with realistic goals. There’s a lot of evidence that writing goals down will help ensure you achieve them.

These lifestyle changes are helping me get more movement in my life, which is helping me feel more energized. This, in turn, is bringing energy to other areas of my life, like writing!

I’m always looking for new ways to move. I’d love to hear how you keep yourself active, especially in the winter months. Please share your ideas in the comments!

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Writing Activity

For this month’s writing activity, I’m going to challenge you all to write a 100-word story inspired by the following image. Who is this woman? Where is she? What’s she thinking? What’s she looking at?

Happy writing!

silhouette of a woman in a snowstorm

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Literary Trivia

Did you know…

Several famous authors believed that walking ignited their creativity. Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, Alice Munro, and William Wordsworth are just a few who were frequent walkers.

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Love this Line

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

~Joseph Addison

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Novel Manuscript Update

Progress has been steady! I’ve managed to work on my manuscript nearly every day this past month. I am currently in the thick of revisions in the “Fun and Games” portion of my novel (often referred to as the murky middle). This is Beat 8 out of 15 in Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat plot structure (although I’m using Jessica Brody’s version: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel as a guide). The Save the Cat beats are a modern-day riff on Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, which has twelve steps. My characters have “crossed the threshold” (step four) and are currently encountering “test, allies, and enemies” (step five). Not everyone is a fan of using these plot structures, but I find them helpful as they keep me focused and help me identify any gaping plot holes.

Next month, I hope to be well past the midpoint of the novel. Wish me luck!

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Exit Ticket

As always, please complete your exit ticket before you leave the lounge! Thanks, friends!

Fellow writers and readers, please share in the comments how you keep yourselves moving, both physically and mentally!

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Lucky, my movement accountability partner

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Let’s Stay Connected!

Let’s keep the conversation and creativity going over on Instagram and Facebook! Here are a few fun items to enjoy over in those spaces.

Literary Trivia: I post one-question quizzes on my Instagram story. Test your literary knowledge!

Manuscript Updates: Watch in-the-moment updates on my novel-writing process and share your own writing experiences. Together, we can keep each other motivated!

Book Recommendations: Looking for a good book to read? Check out my recommendations. I love talking about books!