Am I Lazy?

Is the reason that there has been an increase in obesity due to the fact that adults in today’s society are lazy? Are we all just a bunch of lethargic couch potatoes that don’t do anything but sit around and eat all the time? I say no. Instead we are a product of our revolutionary, technological society. I am not saying we can blame technology, rather I am saying that as with our youth, we adults are also a reflection of the society that surrounds us. It isn’t an excuse, but it is a thought I have often pondered based on my own typical day.

Image via WikipediaMany of us stumble out of bed to the sound of our alarms, and head to the shower, after which you may hear your coffee being made on the coffee maker that is set to make a cup every morning without you having to do a thing. Then you simply push a button on your key ring that starts your car and gets it nice and warm before you even get to it. You can then take a leisurely stroll to your car, get in, and have a nice peaceful drive to work.

Once at work you may take out your PDA and see what is on your agenda for the day. No more flipping through pages of your pocket calendar or scheduler. I know for me, my work day is often simple and sedentary - instead of having to run back and forth through the office to get messages to everyone, I can now simply send an interoffice email with the push of a button. When it is time to leave, I get in my car and drive home.

Many folks these days arrive home from work and put in a microwave dinner that doesn’t have to be chopped up, cut up, stirred, blended, kneaded, poked, or even prodded. Push a few buttons and five minutes later you are sitting in front of the TV watching the shows you recorded on your digital recorder and eating your five minute, nuked meal. (To me this is plain disgusting, so at least I have a from-scratch home-cooked meal every evening.) For many, this is pretty much the norm. 

However, this is really quite a big change from even 15-20 years ago. Gone are the days when people would come home, cook dinner, eat with the family, and go do something like yard work, clean the house, play with the kids, whatever, just something else to occupy the time.

Image via WikipediaFinally, your day is coming to an end and instead of doing something really constructive before you go to bed, you can’t resist the opportunity to surf the Internet for a little while, maybe chat with some friends or relatives on Facebook, and check your email. Now your lazy or technologically dysfunctional day is complete.

This whole story brings me back to my question that started the whole thing. Are we lazy or are we just a product of our environment? I think you could probably say we are both. Years ago, even the simple things like making the dinner would be a LITTLE bit of exercise, but now it is too easy because it is done for you in a box. Everything today is easy and done for you, and most adults are on the heavy side, because things are easier and don’t take as much energy. That doesn’t necessarily mean we as a society are lazy, but it does mean we don’t have to exert ourselves as much to accomplish the everyday routines that are needed to complete the day.

However, we could always stop by the gym on our way home, or go for a walk after dinner, so many of us are also lazy too. Today's technological world just makes it way too easy for us to indulge the lazy side of our nature. Which means that in order to stay healthy, we really have to make more of an effort than we've ever needed to in the past. Stay tuned for some fun ways to do this, and keep fit and active even throughout the winter months.

And in the meantime, you can always visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html for some great ideas for making exercise fun!