I am an avid runner...okay I should say I am an avid advocate of running. That is - I run on a regular basis now but don't necessarily enjoy doing it. Although I do run like my life depends on it sometimes and in a way - it does.
But why on earth is one of the top coping tools for mental illness, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, what-have-you, this ghastly beast called exercise? Everyone knows ‘normal' people who don't wrestle with demons of depression have a hard time sticking to regular physical activity - let alone those of us who find the cemented weight of it in our bones.
So much to my vexation, I've discovered heart pounding exercise (running to be exact) is one of my best mood stabilizers. It helps contain my energy when I'm hypo-manic and kick starts me when I'm sliding down.
But let's be clear: I have never been what you call a jock. I was never on a school sports team. Heck I wasn't even on my school's debating team.
Oh wait...unless you count our grade 7 sports day team, the ‘Atomics'. And we ‘competed' (using that term very loosely, now) only once. Rather than trying to beat the pants off our nemesis the ‘Comets' in the baton relay - I was far more anxious to ensure our homemade paper pom-poms were as puffy as possible.
But getting back to my main point: I know my antidepressant and mood stabilizer, my faithful 7 - 8 hours of sleep, even my therapy sessions aren't enough to keep me on an even keel.
So how did I start running? And what do I do now to keep running on a regular basis. Well, besides watching America's Next Top Model to motivate me (by unrealistic social comparisons) I start with goals so small that the greatest chance for success is created.
I am also an avid advocate of underachieving - aiming so low I can't help but reach my target.
So a little over a year and half ago I set my sights on getting back into moving my body and mending my moods. I needed something both realistic for my body and my schedule. So this is what I aimed for: 2 - 5 times / week of 10 - 30 minutes of walking and/or jogging.
No mileage set (god no!), just ‘doing it' set as the objective.
I needed to create more than just the regular ol' door to success. I needed an ‘open-three-car-garage' door to ensure my victories.
I often don't think I can do 20 minutes, but 10 minutes? 10 minutes I can do. Jog five times a week? I barely eat fruit five times a week. But exercise twice a week? That I can start with.
Now after months of much huffing and puffing - literally - I am now running on average three times a week for about 25 - 35 minutes. Not bad for a pom-pom designer.
