What’s on Your Movement Menu When Life Gets Busy? – Women Living Well After 50

I’m learning to move with my life, rather than fitting my life around exercise

When I started the Million Moves Challenge as part of my Spring Reset, I had every intention of getting back into my regular movement routine.

Running. Strength training. Yoga. Walking.

And then life happened.

We moved house.

Suddenly, my usual structured workouts weren’t happening very often. There were boxes to pack, furniture to move, cupboards to sort, rooms to organise and endless trips backwards and forwards.

At first, I felt a little guilty. I should be exercising. But then I stopped and thought about what I was actually doing.

I was moving all day long.

Moving furniture (I surprised myself at what I could lift), Lifting boxes. Carrying things. Bending, reaching and stretching. Walking from one room to another. Carrying things up and down stairs, cleaning and scrubbing floors at our old home, unpacking, cleaning, sorting and reorganising in our new home.

It wasn’t my usual exercise routine, but it was movement.

And it reminded me of something I’m learning through my Spring Reset:

Movement doesn’t have to be perfect to count.

What if we stopped asking, “What exercise should I do?”

I’ve been thinking about this alongside my idea of a Movement Menu.

Rather than having one rigid exercise routine that I’m supposed to follow regardless of what’s happening in my life, what if I simply asked:

“What movement do I need today?”

Because the answer isn’t always the same.

Some days I have plenty of energy and want to run or do a strength workout. Other days I might need to stretch and loosen up.

Sometimes I only have ten minutes. Sometimes I need to get outside.

And sometimes I’m simply exhausted and what I really need is rest. After moving and working non stop to unpack I felt like I had hit a wall and just had to stop!

That’s why I like the idea of having a Movement Menu.

What’s on your Movement Menu?

Think of it like choosing from a menu depending on your time, energy and how you’re feeling.

I have energy

This might be the day for a run, strength training, a brisk walk or a longer workout.

I need to loosen up

Yoga, mobility exercises, stretching or some gentle movement might be exactly what your body needs.

I only have 10 minutes

Ten minutes still counts.

Walk around the block. Do some mobility exercises. Put on your favourite music and dance. Take a movement break from whatever you’re doing.

I need connection

Walk with a friend. Go for a stroll with your partner. Walk while chatting on the phone. Take the grandchildren to the park.

Movement doesn’t have to be something you do alone.

I need a mood boost

Get outside. Walk in nature. Put on some music. Move your body and give your mind a change of scenery.

I’m tired

This one is important. Maybe it’s gentle stretching, a slow walk or Restorative yoga.

Or perhaps the right choice is rest.

Because rest belongs on the Movement Menu too.

Moving house taught me something

For several weeks, preparing to move, packing and then eventually moving, I didn’t have the time or headspace to follow my normal exercise routine.

But I wasn’t inactive, I was moving constantly. And rather than seeing that as a failure because I wasn’t “working out”, I’ve started to see it differently.

Everyday movement matters.

Of course, structured exercise is important too. Strength training, cardiovascular exercise, balance work, mobility and activities that challenge our bodies all have an important place in healthy ageing.

But I don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking that if I can’t complete a “proper workout”, I’ve done nothing.

Life isn’t always predictable.

There will be weeks when we’re travelling, moving house, caring for someone, working longer hours, dealing with family commitments or simply feeling tired.

That doesn’t mean we’ve fallen off the wagon.

It means life is happening.

And now life is settling again…

After 10 days, our house is finally starting to feel like home. The furniture is in place, boxes are disappearing, things are finding their places and I’m finally getting some headspace back.

And interestingly, my Movement Menu is changing again – I’m ready to return to more structured movement.

I’m looking forward to getting back to running, strength training, yoga and walking — not because I have to “make up” for the weeks when I couldn’t do it, but because I enjoy moving my body.

That’s an important distinction. I’m not exercising because I need to punish myself for being inactive.

I’m moving because I want to stay strong, mobile and independent. In particular, my strength training and cardio workouts have shown me that I have to strength and capacity to keep going which was invaluable during our move. I want to keep doing the things I love. I want to travel, explore, play with my grandchildren, enjoy adventures and continue participating fully in life.

Movement needs to fit our life

This is becoming one of the biggest lessons of my Spring Reset.

Just as I talked about Energy Accounting in my previous post, I’m beginning to think about movement differently too.

Instead of:

“What workout should I do?”

I’m asking:

“What movement suits my energy, my time and my life today?”

And that can change from day to day.

Our movement needs to fit our life — not the other way around.

So, what’s on your Movement Menu today?

Do you have energy for a workout?

Do you need to stretch?

Could you fit in a ten-minute walk?

Would some everyday movement be enough?

Or perhaps you need to rest.

There is no perfect answer.

Just keep moving in ways that support the life you want to live.

Because ultimately, movement isn’t just about exercise.

It’s about having the strength, confidence and freedom to participate in life.

And that’s what Life in Full Bloom means to me.

Until next week,

Sue x

Helping women over 50 bloom in life 🌸

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