If you know me, you know I am constantly reading and watching videos about the bodymind and trauma and healing and overall fitness (meaning, for me, the confluence of mind, body, spirit), but then I don’t always remember WHERE I get stuff so I apologize for the lack of sources here but whatevs.
There are some new studies out there that are showing that fidgeting can be super helpful in activating a more effective metabolism.
The one study is about simply doing heel lifts when you’re seated. Crazy stuff. They’re called “soleus pushups.”
But little bits of movement throughout the day — and I mean LITTLE BITS — can help long term with overall health.
Turns out fidgeting is good for you. (Though perhaps annoying for the person sitting next to you on the couch… ((cough)) ha)
Here are some things I’m playing with that aren’t exactly fidgeting but are along those lines because I’m doing them quickly and not for more than 30 or 60 seconds at a time:
If you’re having to sit for a long time, do those soleus pushups but also do some joint circles — wrists, for one, and shoulders and ankles are easy to do in a chair and to do in these tiny bits I keep mentioning.
When I walk past a certain wall toward the kitchen, I try to stop and do just a few wall pushups.
When I’m waiting for tea water to boil or whatever, I do a bunch of rises on the balls of my feet (releves) from different foot positions.
Sometimes on the couch, I do a ton of weird leg stretches… like a cat!
I’m trying to add in brief wall sits when I pass other walls in the house.
I’m also trying to remember to put my fingertips on the edge of the door frame and do a weighted drop (not lifting my feet off the ground to hang totally yet because of the shoulder stuff I’m still healing from).
You could have a squeezy ball at your desk to just, well, squeeze, because grip is super important to dynamic aging.
I also have some actual fidget toys that keep my fingers moving when I’m watching TV.
If you have other ideas, I’d love to hear!
AND in case you missed it, a recent video I made is about some simple movement to do to work with anger, frustration, stuckness, grief, etc.
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