I’ve just returned from a 5-week free boot camp. I’m sleeping soundly, have lots of energy and lost 8 pounds. The one downside? I had to change the fitness instructor’s diapers.
While spending time with my two-year-old grandchild, I reset my eating, exercise and sleep habits. I feel younger in body and spirit. And I didn’t need to invest time and money on trainers and nutritionists.
The secret was to live like a toddler.
Here are the daily practices I adopted, thanks to my grandbaby. Try incorporating one or two into your life. You might be surprised by the results.
Walk, Don’t Ride
“Down, Coco!” Walking is a totally cool new skill for a toddler. My little one begged to climb the stairs on her own and stroll through the park. We routinely logged thousands of steps each day. The exercise wore us out – in a good way.
Because I live in the ‘burbs, I rely on my car to get around. Because I really want to keep walking outdoors for the fresh air and low-impact exercise, I intend to drive less and walk more, even when the weather’s cold or rainy. It might take me longer, but that’s another toddler lesson I need to remember.
Slow Down
My family is a pack of wolves. We devour meals in minutes. I take the blame for this bad habit. When I was raising the kids, we were constantly on the move to after-school music lessons, weekend games or evening meetings. We rarely had time to linger over meals.
Now that I’m retired, I need to remind myself that the clock doesn’t own me anymore. My granddaughter is blissfully unaware of time. The minutes passed as we counted and consumed individual blueberries. We “mooed” through milk sips. And carefully deconstructed broccoli florets.
Eating more slowly enabled me to learn another important food lesson.
Eat Until You’re Full
My toddler literally pushed her plate away when she was finished eating. Thankfully, we’ve all learned not to force kids to finish what’s on their plates. My parents, raised during the Depression, insisted we remain loyal members of the Clean Plate Club.
When the little one was done, we were too. So I naturally found myself eating less. And, unlike the way I was raised, dessert was a rare treat, not a reward for finishing a meal. The few occasions we split an ice cream cone or petite pastry felt special, not expected.
Play Time All the Time
A day in the life of a toddler means spending lots of time getting up and down off the floor, dancing like no one’s watching and indulging your imagination.
There’s infinite joy in play. And we forget that as we age.
Spending time with the two-year-old sparked my creativity and reminded me not to take things too seriously. Will I wear a unicorn headband to the grocery store? I doubt it, but I’ll remember to make time in my days to craft, practice yoga and sing at the top of my lungs.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise
After bath and bedtime stories, I was as ready for blankie time as my grandbaby. While waiting for the midsummer evening sun to set, I read and let the day’s energy recede. When I couldn’t see the words on the page, I drifted off to sleep, waking without an alarm to the next day’s dawn.
If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, a screen-free wind-down routine is recommended. It’s a practice I’ll continue at home.
I won’t return to boot camp for a few months. I’ll keep eating, playing and sleeping like a toddler until then, so I don’t disappoint my tiny trainer. She’s tough, but adorable.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you make time in your day to play? If so, what’s your favorite just-for-fun activity? Is napping like a toddler something you do?
