I made the best purchase last week which I am beyond thrilled with. Before I go into that though I want to tell you about me and exercise. I’m not a fan. If it’s gentle, I’m happy. But sometimes even then I can’t be bothered which is not a very chic way to think I know. I love my yoga class when I’m there but if there’s a reason I can’t go, I’m not unhappy about it.
Same with walking, in my mind I am a walker and true, I will happily walk into town (40 minutes) rather than take the bus or car, but walking daily for exercise like I ‘think’ I do, well it gets blown off rather often.
I never took our iPod out walking because it’s quite big, I need a pocket because I was afraid of dropping it and also because I never remembered to. Plus, I like to work things out in my head whilst walking and music seemed to intrude on that.
Then I had an idea to get a tiny cheap iPod and put only my podcasts/audiobooks/saved audio clips etc on, as I love listening to them for inspiration. I listen to them when I’m getting ready in the morning, driving in the car, and in the evening when I wash my face.
If I bought a tiny cheap iPod I could listen to my inspiring podcasts more and actually look forward to walking! So I bought an iPod Shuffle 2GB and it’s SO tiny. The size of an inch-square piece of Lindt chocolate tiny. Ridiculously tiny. But it fits all the podcasts I’d ever want to listen to, and has a little springy clip on the back, so it attaches to my neckline or bra strap and I’m off!
The first day I used it I planned to walk for around 30 minutes, but chose to go down extra streets (and even a nice-looking cul de sac for a look) simply because I wanted to keep listening. I ended up walking for 50 minutes and it seemed effortless. And the next day an hour. Yay!
Even today, a week later I realise I have walked most if not all days since I bought it.
Now I totally understand all those people I keep seeing with earphones in (which used to be everyone except me). I’m not a technology person, I don’t have a smart phone yet for example, but I totally love it when technology offers me a simple, fun and inexpensive solution. And I can still hear traffic over the talking so I am safe (plus I always look when crossing the roads).
Working on my mind and body at the same time – love it!
And the unexpected bonus is that I have been using it when I do my housework too, and mind pottering away cleaning our home much less than I used to. I paid NZ$69 for ours, and I see they are US$49 in America. What a bargain for such a handy device.
Here are some of my favourite inspirational listenings (and please let me know your favourites to give me some ideas!):
- Tonya Leigh’s blog post audio clips (plus her YouTube soirees – I save them as audio using an online converter then save them to my iPod Shuffle) - The Simple Sophisticate podcasts on iTunes - Interviews with inspiring people as found on iTunes (such as Peter Walsh, Louise Hay and Brian Tracy)PS. Promise this is not a paid advertisement…but it should be.