There’s exercise and then there’s movement for the joy of the thing.
Too much of our activity in adulthood is exercise ; the overly stiff lifting of weights, the going nowhere of the treadmill, and similar.
Children are physical, and it is all the fun of play. To a child to be outdoors and moving is all out joy – sprint, rest, drink some apple juice, laugh, giggle, repeat.
In adulthood most lose this in the seemingly never ending negative feedback loop of commute to job, commute home, turn on the television, slop down some microwavable “meal” that didn’t even fully heat through – will you get back up and heat it longer?
As an adult look to things that can be considered skills, things that don’t require intensity – not more than a focused sense of playfulness anyway.
I strongly suggest you find a physical skill or three to learn, and simply approach it as play.
Around the start of spring I arbitrarily decided that I’d pick up soccer juggling.
I’d never played organized soccer, hadn’t even kicked a ball around in over a decade (my buddy and I occasionally did as seniors in high school instead of “the game” with a rugby ball), and instagram had shown me some soccer juggling gymnastic stuff which I found cool, so I ran with it.
At the start eight or so months ago there was still snow on the ground and I’d get a few ct.
Six months ago I was in the 35ct area.
According to where I wrote down my PRcts whether barefoot or wearing shoes had not broke 70ct…until today.
Today I hit 82ct wearing shoes.
At the start of this I wanted to get to 100ct.
Six months ago my best counts were in the 30s whereas today I’ll get a count of 30+ in less than five minutes of practice.
Today was unseasonably warm, mid 50s, when late November could easily be 20°f.
I took the opportunity to get some sunlight and some movement in.
Shirtless because it was still daylight and the temperature, between tree’s being cut nearby as noise filming kettlebell might as well wait til no video and lifting after dark today.
I actually enjoy after dark outdoor lifting more anyway.
(But turns out I got a SOLID one bell 48kg session in during the last hour before dark – that video uploaded and posting monday.)
I’d never have expected it ; to be so far from a gym, to be so into, and so strong from kettlebells, and to up my time fill and playful activity with soccer juggling.
Enjoy your training my friends,
-J