I kept telling myself I’d start “real” exercise once work calmed down, once I had more energy, once I found the time. That day never came. My neck and shoulders were locking up by dinner most nights from sitting at my desk all day.
What changed things was dropping the plan part entirely.
First, no set time anymore. Whenever my neck started aching mid afternoon, I’d just stand up and roll my shoulders back, no timer, no goal, just whenever my body reminded me.
Second, instead of a walk with a route in mind, I started a loop around the block after dinner, the kind where I’m not tracking anything, just moving before I sink into the couch.
Third, I stopped counting how long any of it lasted. Some days it’s barely anything, other days longer than I meant to. Either way it counts, apparently, my shoulders aren’t nearly as tight by the end of the week anymore.
None of this feels like exercise, which is probably why I’ve actually kept doing it. Sorry for the long post, everyone… just wanted to get this down before I talked myself out of it again.