I’m going to be really honest with you guys – my fitness routine has not been going how I want it to. It’s not that I don’t exercise. I actually rock climb 2 days per week and attend dance classes 2 days per week.
The problem is that outside of these exercises, I am incredibly sedentary. I mean, I give sloths a run for their money. I work a desk job where I rarely stand up throughout the day, and when I get home, I often just sit on the couch reading or watching TV. Definitely not the healthiest lifestyle.
So while it’s great that I already have this current exercise routine in place, I want to take it a step further and work more activity into my daily life.
That’s why I’m starting a 30-day walking challenge. The goal of my challenge is to reach 8,000-10,000 steps per day for 30 days straight. And I know it won’t be easy! But I think it will be a great way to get more activity in.
How I plan on working more steps into my day
Considering I’m super sedentary right now, I can’t just reach 8,000-10,000 steps per day without setting some intentions. So, here are a few changes I plan on making to my routine and ways that you too can fit in more steps.
Using a fitness tracker
My Fitbit has honestly been collecting dust for more than just a few months. I’ve had a Fitbit Charge 5 for many years, but I go through phases where I will wear it for a week, and then I won’t touch it again for 2 months.
BUT! It is currently plugged in and charging. I think setting the intention of wearing it every day will keep me more accountable and help me keep accurate track of my steps. It’s hard to do a 10,000-step walking challenge when you don’t know how many steps you’ve taken!
Walking for 10 minutes in the morning and evening
My morning routine usually consists of: Wake up, coffee and breakfast, meditate (maybe), read.
I’m already starting off the day very sedentary.
That’s why I want to set aside 10 minutes to walk in the morning. I often get up before the sun, so this will probably take place on the treadmill in my apartment gym, but there’s nothing wrong with that! Steps are steps.
The same applies to my evening routine. It’s very sedentary, usually watching TV or reading before I shower and go to bed. So, I will take a short walk before bed as well. An extra benefit is that I think this will help me wind down for bed.
Moving every hour
While my plan to walk in the morning and evening are great, I don’t think it’s going to help much if I go to work and sit down for 8 hours straight without moving.
So, I plan on setting a timer for every hour to remind myself to get up and walk around. I plan to walk a minimum of 300 steps each hour.
Want to join me?
I plan to kick off this challenge on April 12th. If you are looking for some accountability and to start (or restart) an exercise routine, please join me in this challenge! I plan on making weekly update posts to discuss what went well and what didn’t the previous week.
If you don’t have a fitness tracker, many phones have a build in step tracker. Just make sure to take your phone with you when you walk!
If you’re interested in joining the walking challenge, comment below 3 ways you plan to get more steps into your daily routine!
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