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We’re nearly halfway into 2008. By now most
people have either given up on their new year’s resolution or decided
not to make one at all. One of the goals in my household was to improve
our health by incorporating a routine of daily exercise. Had this
happened yet? Well, not really. We had started walking in our
neighborhood but if anything interfered, i.e. bad weather, unexpected
phone calls, a trip to the store, long work-day, etc., it didn’t
happen. We had talked about other options, such as a gym membership or
purchasing exercise equipment but realized that both of these had
pitfalls. Since we live in a rural area, traveling somewhere else to
exercise stands a slim chance of success. So the gym membership was a
big NOT for us. That left the idea of exercise equipment. Could we
afford it? Did we have enough space? What would prevent it from
becoming a clothes hanger or just another piece of furniture gathering
dust? With affirmative answers to the first two questions and both of
us agreeing that we had to do something, we decided to throw caution to
the wind and take the chance. The next question was should we purchase
new or used? So, off my husband went to search for the best equipment
for the least amount of money. I figured this would get him more
involved and hopefully spending some money would foster his sense of
ownership for the concept of daily exercise. In the past, although
we’ve both had successes, he has been the one more likely to come up
with excuses that caused him to stray from the routine. Anyway, after
scouring newspaper ads, online services, retail stores and
warehouse-style vendors, we finally settled on three pieces of new
equipment; an elliptical machine, an inversion board, and a
weight-trainer. The elliptical machine would build cardiovascular, the
inversion board would help decrease back stress (a problem each of us
has), and the weight-trainer would provide great overall strengthening.
Initially, I have to be honest and say that all three sat in their boxes
for at least a week -- in the storage room, no less. Our investment was
just sitting there waiting for us to take responsibility and get
started. Why does it have to be so difficult to make this a reality?
Where are our priorities? I guess the flashing neon sign and the loud
siren that blared every time we walked by the storage room door finally
got our attention. We soon realized why we got such good discount
prices; there were literally thousands of pieces for each item. It was
“Lego” gone wild! Another week or so of intense building (solidifying
ownership for my husband) and they were finally ready to go. Now for
the moment of truth. I have to give my husband credit for being the
first one to actually use the new equipment. But as of this date, we
are both working out as planned. According to
www.lifehack.org, there are eighteen tricks to
create a new habit that requires little effort to maintain. A few of
these follow:
commit to thirty days
make it daily
start simple
remind yourself
stay consistent
get a buddy
be imperfect
remove temptation
associate with role models
know the benefits
Already after just a
couple of weeks, we are feeling more energized and insightful. Though
it seems counter-intuitive, each work-out adds to the reserves that make
us capable of handling life’s crises that inevitably come our way.
Let’s stretch this a bit further (pun intended). If exercise can do
this for our minds and bodies, think about what your professional
association can do for your career as a nurse and the profession as a
whole. The Georgia Nurses Association promise is to provide
opportunities for growth through energizing experiences, empowering
insight, and essential resources. Sound familiar? How do we make this a
reality? How do we prioritize this commitment …… or do we? I would
suggest that some of the same questions need to be answered. Can we
afford it? Can we fit it in our lives? Will we put it to good use or
just let it sit idle? What will ensure ownership? Will the work be too
overwhelming? Each of us in the nursing profession must answer these
questions for ourselves. However, there are options available to fit
individual styles. First, in addition to the usual methods of payment,
dues money can be deducted automatically each month from your bank
account. This amounts to about one dinner at a moderately-priced
restaurant once a month. That’s for full membership at both the state
and national levels. There is also the state-only option, which is
about $100 less per year. Rhetorically, I would ask how can one not
afford it? There is so much work to be done within our own state as
well as through our representatives in Congress. Because the health
care arena is in a continuing state of flux, nurses must speak with a
collective voice. Joining together can ensure that nursing’s agenda is
heard in every arena for maximum influence. In response to the other
questions, as nurses, we practice our profession each and every day,
whether we are at work or not. The essential resources at our
fingertips through GNA and ANA add dimension to the work that we do and
the people we serve. Participation ensures a sense of ownership as well
as utilization of these resources. Lastly, I refer back to an earlier
message (Georgia Nursing Nov-Dec-Jan) where I spoke about the concept of
mindfulness, proposed by Drs. Rushton, Roshi, and Dossey. As you may
recall, mindfulness helps us to expand our focus from the small picture
in front of us to the broad canvas ahead. It ensures that our words and
behaviors are in-line with our intentions. I invite you to see the big
picture and make sure that your words and behaviors are demonstrated as
active members in your professional association. Don’t let any
interference distract you from exercising the role of your professional
association in your life. The Georgia Nurses Association is just the
right place for you!
Balkstra is currently the President of
the Georgia Nurses Association. She took office during September 2007
after serving a two-year term as President-elect. |
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