Let’s talk about . . . being consistent with our fitness.
Every month, I go on and on about how beneficial fitness is for us — and especially as we age. It’s good for our hearts. It’s good for our bones. It’s good for our brains. It’s good for our moods. It’s good. It’s good. It’s good. Yada. Yada. Yada.
Yet.
I know how hard it is to get up and move – consistently – every day. I know it’s that “consistent” part of things that is most challenging. The getting up. The getting out the door. The starting.
So. Here’s my challenge to you . . .
Get up. Get out. Walk for 10 minutes (on purpose; like you’re late for something) . . . every day for a week.
Just for 10 mintues.
(And you can do almost anything for 10 minutes.)
You don’t need special workout clothes. You don’t need special shoes. You don’t need any equipment at all. Just get up. Get out. And walk for 10 minutes. Listen to the birds. Feel the sun on your face. Breathe in the fresh air. Get your heart pumping just a little. You’ll feel better! Maybe . . . your 10 minutes will stretch into more than 10 minutes some days. Or maybe not. The most important thing here?
Just get up.
Get out.
Every day.
Move.
(And then what? After the 7 days? Well. I hope you will have discovered that . . . daily movement isn’t so hard to manage after all. That you’ll have found it easy to do. And satisfying. And that – maybe – you’ll be able to continue beyond 7 days. After all . . . 10 minutes a day isn’t much. But it adds up to . . . 70 minutes a week. Y’know?)
Try it!
See what happens!
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2023 Monthly Fitness Challenges
#3 – Discover how active you really are
#1 – Create your own fitness plan for 2023
Looking for Monthly Fitness Challenges from 2021-2022? I’ve moved them! Now you can find them in the Field Notes section of the blog (just click on Field Notes in the top menu) and look for Monthly Fitness Challenges 2021-2022.
This! I am working on week #2 of PT and I have had homework… and at first that homework was a challenge, but on day 10, I am eager to get to my homework… and I am so delighted at how I feel after I do my homework!
So, yes… get up and move! XO
Great advice Kym. Consistency is the hard part for sure.
Walking has hurt my hips and lower back more, so I’ve started riding a stationary bicycle. I usually read while doing it and I’ve discovered that if I turn the clock off on my Kindle, I can often ride for 45+ minutes (especially if it’s a good book.)
I realized something about myself this week when we were camping . . . I actually like to walk (I’ve thought I don’t enjoy walking for years) but not on streets or sidewalks. And I like to walk in a loop . . . I don’t like to go in one direction and then come back the same way. Unfortunately, walking from my house means walking on the sidewalk of a busy road and it means going in a straight line and then reversing direction and coming back the same way. I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do with this new-found knowledge about myself but data is good.
Consistency is the hardest part for me. 10 minutes ———-anybody can do that, right?
To encourage walking/running on my treadmill, I have certain Netflix shows that I only allow myself to watch if I’m exercising. I try to find shows that have a lot of episodes and seasons so I don’t have to think about what to put on.
Move to a condo and get a dog. LOL I have no choice but the walk Mylo no matter what. We go in all weather and it’s not too bad if you buy the right gear.
I like Margene’s suggestion, too!
Listening to podcasts and audiobooks while I walk or run is a good motivator, too. If there’s something I really want to listen to but I only do it while exercising, then it’ll make me want to get out there.