Thirty Minute Challenge

What can you do in thirty minutes?

I’m always talking about how important and beneficial it is for people with TBI to exercise, but it's equally important for caregivers. I don’t listen to my own advice often enough. My daily exercise has degenerated into a leisurely walk once a day. Today, I tried something new: for thirty minutes (when I might have been fooling around on Facebook or reading the paper over coffee), I decided to move as though I had been given 30 minutes to fill up a shopping cart at my favorite store. I was amazed at what I could do in that small amount of time if I planned it out and just did it.

8:00 a.m. - 8:15: a vigorous walk outside while talking to a friend on the phone.

8:15: Turned on morning news and exercised while watching. During commercials, I blazed through housework, vacuumed three rooms and the staircase, and ran through the house collecting stray glasses and garbage bags. While the news was on, I watched while doing jumping jacks, lunges, push ups on the staircase, and yes, a few dance moves! I actually broke a heavy sweat.

In 30 minutes, I caught up with a friend and the news, exercised, and cleaned up the whole downstairs. The best part is, I feel like I accomplished something and did something good for myself.  My challenge is to do this every day, or let’s be real—most days!

What can you do in thirty minutes?