Healthy Monday – Forget Technology

Posted on June 28, 2010

Each Monday, a simple health tip and challenge will be posted as part of Healthy Monday.  Healthy Monday is a public health initiative founded in 2005 in association with Johns Hopkins University, Syracuse University, and Columbia Univerisity. 

Their mission includes ending “chronic preventable disease in the U.S. by offering people and organizations a weekly prompt to start and sustain healthy behaviors.”

The Tip: Sometimes we get too worked up about heart rate, pace, calories burned, distance covered, etc. etc.  All of that info can be very helpful, but sometimes all that data can take away from the joy of being active. 

The Challenge: Leave the technology at home today.  No iPod, heart rate monitor, watch, or anything else.  Just go outside and be active until you feel that you’ve had a great workout.  Look at things.  Notice trees, flowers, animals, your neighbors, and everything else.  Notice how you feel, how you’re breathing, your challenges, etc.

Yesterday I walked home from church with my wife and 16-month old daughter.  My daughter is learning how to say things and each thing she saw she would point at it and say what it was.  She would say “car” and then “flower” and then “tweet tweet” (bird).  Kids take the time to notice things.  We should too on occasion. 

Have a healthy Monday!

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» Filed Under Healthy Monday, healthy lifestyle

Comments

  • http://twitter.com/thefight2befit/status/17271015265 Fight4Fitness

    Latest: Healthy Monday – Forget Technology http://blakehagen.com/2010/06/healthy-monday-forget-technology/

  • http://twitter.com/blakehagen/status/17271193219 Blake Hagen

    Healthy Monday – Forget Technology http://is.gd/d7ZOP (via @theFight2beFit)

  • Amy

    Tough challenge! I do get wrapped up in the numbers of it all. Although, I will say, If I run on a Sunday morning, I leave the ipod home and enjoy a leisurely run. The walk to church hasn't been easy though.. there are no sidewalks, a narrow country road, and a major construction project blocking our path. When the construction is over, we should be able to walk to church.

  • http://www.fakefoodfree.com Lori

    This ends up being an easy one for me and reminds me that my exercise has changed so much in the past few years. I am not a technology girl at all. I do wear a watch and calculate my distance once I get back home, but I don't like numbers. Since we moved out to a more rural area I rarely use my iPod because I love just the things you mentioned — I love hearing the sounds, seeing the birds and the cows. It's been a strange change for me, but I love being in the moment and definitely suggest taking on the challenge! :)

  • http://blakehagen.com Blake

    I'm a numbers guy too, but it's nice to take a rest from it all every once in a while. That stinks about the construction.. hope it ends soon so you can enjoy the walks to church!

  • http://blakehagen.com Blake

    I love riding my bike in rural/farm areas because of less traffic… although sometimes the smell gets to me :)