You must know that bit when you can‘t decide?
Your head isn’t sure whether you should clean the shower, have a coffee or do something else. If you could remember what that was?
You decide on the coffee. Sit down. Yes? And then remember you meant to ring…..
Stand up. Forgot where you put the phone. Turn left. No. Turn Right. No.
Step forward quickly ‘It is in the hall”. Sudden stop. Step back quickly.
Regain balance and have a think. Eyes shut. Hover.
Spin right round. Rush to kitchen. Did I leave a pan on? Sudden halt. No.
But coffee going cold. Sit down. It is cold. Stand up. Should do something. Hover from one foot to the other again. Start forward. Quick. To shower. Dont waste time.
Sudden stop! Hand to forehead. Eyes shut. Step back three steps. Bend down and peer in cupboard. Where did I put the ‘Flash stuff?’ No. Stand up. Hover again, Turn this way and that.
Freeze and think. Throw arms in air. ‘Gosh. Forgot to order it” Now walk slowly and think, eyes shut. Where is that phone? Must amend order. Try top shelf in hall. Stretch up on toes. Is it in handbag? No. Rush to bedroom. Stop! Did I put it in the drawer? Bend. No.
Shut eyes. Rock forward and backward side to side until time for lunch.
More stand ups sit downs. Do I want water? Forgot salt. Dropped fork under table.
Jump up in delight! Found it! The phone…. now why was I looking for it?
Not Joking!
These activities are excellent for keeping and improving balance and control as you get older.
The key to the value of this type of exercise is speed, stop start, quick changes of direction and recovery from quick movements.
Plus the ability poise and shift on alternate feet with your eyes shut.
We arent talking about strength here. Nor flexibility or cardiac workouts. All good. All essential.
What this type of exercise does is exercise your inner ear , your balance and control mechanisms during erratic movement.
Especially important are quick changes of position, stopping, starting, up, down and rapid turns.
These are most often the times when people fall. Yet they are not always included in gym type training.
If you go to a falls prevention class you will be doing similar things.
But suspect it can be fun to do it at home. Deliberately, as part of your every day.
Laugh at yourself! Make your shilly shallying into something productive! Or do it on purpose.
Maybe to lively music? When you come to think of it, it is rather like dance too isnt it? Stop start, quick turns. Forward and back, balance and poise, bend stretch.
So long as it has speed and sudden stops or turns it works.
Shilly Shallying as exercise will keep those balance mechanisms on their toes! Enjoy!