Apparently we don’t walk enough.
We use our mobile phones, laptops and TVs too much.
Ideally, we should stop watching screens one hour before bed, but how many of us do that?
So here’s a suggestion.
Something I’ve started to do is to walk for five or ten minutes outside in the garden before going to bed. It’s a small garden so I can only really do about twenty-five steps along the path, so I pace back and forth a bit like an animal in a zoo.
However, this performs a number of useful functions:
- I give myself some fresh air before bed, which helps me to sleep better.
- It dissipates that eye-strainy, headachy, hot feeling you get after watching TV or working with a screen.
- It helps me to mentally prepare for bed by separating me from the images I’ve been looking at (particularly valuable after a violent or disturbing film).
- It enables me to increase the number of steps I walk for that day.
- A little calm and pacing can help you sort out ideas and maybe even plan what you’re going to do next day.
Of course, not everybody has a garden, but you can substitute a moment on the balcony (preferably without smoking!) or a saunter down the street. If you have a dog, you probably have to go out anyway.
Just an idea. Try it and see if it helps.
Have a great week!
Love
Richard
P.S. I forgot to say you get to see the stars and moon more often too and even an occasional creature….
