Confession:  I have been coming down hard on my plankaday participants lately. Some of you have fallen off the radar.   I don’t know if you are planking or not.    And while you don’t need to give me a “shout out” every day, an occasional “I planked today” would be a great indication to me that you are still on board. 

Yes, I am a drill sergeant, and a relentless one at that, but not necessarily because I enjoy being tough.  It is because I want you to succeed.

Success takes persistence, discomfort, and at times, monotony.  I am shouting at you with a bullhorn to your ear because sometimes, we need help staying on course. 

Many of you have mentioned that you have not had time to do your plank. Let’s face it, unless you have the body strength of an Olympic gymnast or Baron Baptise, your daily plank will not take more than a few moments out of your daily life.  Below are 20 ways to fit in your plank without stressing over finding the time.

Perform your plank while:

 1)      Your kids are in the bath

2)      During TV commercials

3)      On hold for customer service

4)      In the kitchen cooking, while the pasta water boils or in between stirring the veggies!

5)      Waiting for your computer to start up

6)      Waiting for your yoga or fitness class to begin at the gym

7)      At the beach!

8)      Checking email on your phone

9)      Reading a book!

10)   In your office in between meetings

11)   As soon as your feet hit the ground in the morning, before you start your day

12)   Taking a break in between folding loads of laundry

13)   Your green smoothie is in the blender!

14)   Your toast is in the toaster

15)   Your baby takes a nap

16)   At the park with your kids

17)   Waiting for the coffee to brew

18)   Taking a brain break from a work project or blogging, studying, or planning your monthly household budget

19)   Waiting for a friend to return your text message

20)   Reviewing meeting notes/a speech/work presentation you have to give in the morning

 These little challenges that I have been hosting may not in itself change your life, but if you stick with them, you may learn something about yourself that will.  Holding a plank longer than you thought you would may lead to the realization that you are stronger than you think you are, and when we believe we are strong, suddenly, the possibilities for our lives are endless.

So stick with it.  There may be other things in store for you that you never saw coming. 

Namaste, Divas!

©2012 Ilene Evans