30 Day Habit: After 4 weeks

Almost a month ago, I decided to start a new habit, daily stretching.

I'm not doing so good.

I reviewed my first week's progress here. I thought I had reviewed my second week's progress, but apparently that was just in my brain. There is no third week progress. So that brings us to today, four weeks.

I don't think I stretched at all over the last two weeks. Maybe once or twice, but let's just go with zero since I don't really remember.

This is what happens when life happens. We forget to take care of ourselves.

I'm having a great time at work. We have a definite plan to complete our relocation project. But I forget to take care of myself. So I am recommitting to another 4 weeks.

Hopefully daily stretching will be a habit by September 24th.

30 Day Habit: After 7 Days

Last week I decided to start a new habit... daily stretching.

A few things I've learned, or probably already knew but had forgotten:

* time of day matters

* sequence of events matters

* location matters

I chose to make stretching my new daily habit. I used to be very flexible but am not so today.

I decided that I would stretch every morning before I showered.

The First Day: On my initial stretch, I can bend over and touch the floor with my finger-tips. If I reach, I can just touch my thumb to the floor. I feel very tight. After about 20 minutes of stretching, I can reach two inches further. My palms are not on the floor yet, but will be soon.

Day Two: I had to leave for the airport at 4 am, so I decided to do a very short session reaching for my toes in the morning with the major session after I checked into my hotel that evening.

Days Three thru Five: Very smooth. Each morning I woke up and completed my new stretching routine.

Day Six: I completely forgot to stretch in the morning. I got home from my trip very late the night before and my husband is out of town. So my routine was doubly out of order. I finally remembered late in the evening when I was thinking about this blog and the posts I had planned to write. I guess sometimes it's a good thing to tell the "world" you're going to do something.

Day Seven: Thanks to my goofup on day six, I remembered to stretch and did it first thing in the morning.

After one week of daily stretching, I haven't noticed a significant change in my initial morning flexibility. I do seem to loosen up more quickly and my back feels less tight during the day.

I'm anxious for the day that I can put my whole hand on the floor first thing in the morning.

It takes 30 days to make a habit?

I read a post yesterday by Katy over at Alpaca Farm Girl and it got me thinking... What a good idea. Do something small every day that's good for you.

I spend a lot of time in a chair; in front of a computer, in a car, on a plane, waiting for a plane, knitting, spinning, reading. My hips and hamstrings are outrageously tight.

So in small-way-sister-solidarity, I've decided to stretch. I will stretch every morning starting today, August 2nd, so hopefully by August 31st it will be automatic.