Big Picture and Details

I like to see the big picture.

I also like to know the details.

So when I'm training dogs, I like to know where we are going to end up eventually, but I also love breaking down the process and figuring out the details.

When I'm designing or painting sets for a drama production or making costumes, I like to know how it's all going to look together, but I also love learning how to achieve the big picture by figuring out the detailed steps.

So, if the big picture of my Healthy Living journey means that I'm going to end up healthy, what do I need to figure out in the details? Putting together the look of a musical requires knowledge in different areas, such as building, painting, sewing, design, color theory, etc. Putting together a training routine for a dog also requires knowledge in several areas, such as training methods, socialization, stress-reduction, nutrition, motivation, communication, etc. What areas are involved in a Healthy Life journey? Movement, mindfulness, motivation, and moderation.

So I'm going to categorize the random changes I've made so far.

• Movement
• 5 active hours per day
• Mindfulness
• Journaling
• Think about why I eat something before I eat it
• Motivation
• Breathing
• Humming
• Light Box
• Taking Vitamin D
• Moderation
• Going to bed by 11:00

It looks like it's time to add another Movement goal, so I'm going to take 5000 steps per day. 

Everybody Move...(to quote the giant in the Princess Bride)

I got a really nifty Fitbit for Christmas. It has a little vibration that goes off 10 minutes before each hour if I haven't walked 250 steps that hour.

Since Christmas, some days I've achieved 8 or 9 active hours, other days 3 or 4.

In the past, I would set a goal of achieving 10 active hours per day, then after a week or two, I would not be able to do it, then I would just quit all together.

I'm doing things differently now. How can I break a movement goal into a tiny, achievable step, so I can Level Up my movement?

I'm going to choose the number 5. It's a little above my lowest days, but still possible to do. My Mom taught me yesterday to put on an active song and move during that song. It gets me enough steps, and jamming to Footloose and What Does the Fox Say with my Mom was really fun! And it gave us a break from our costume sewing and painting.

It's more difficult for me to be active on days when my creativity is flowing and I'm working on projects. It's easier to be active when my focus is on dog training. Because I'm always inventing ways to incorporate dog training lessons into life, I'm going to play the Magic Circle Game with my dogs during some of my active times. (It's in K9 Level Up, Level 2: Loose Leash)