Consistency… This has always been a struggle for me! I work hard, I set goals, I generally get shiz done. But I also burn out, make excuses, and break promises to myself. Right now my physical and emotional health NEED me to have something healthy to commit myself to—to keep me moving forward, to make me stronger, to release the built up emotions in my body, to get my endorphins going, and to kick that cortisol to the curb! And that’s why I committed to 10k steps a day over the summer.
For the record, I didn’t just jump straight into 10k steps a day–I worked my way up to it so that I’d avoid getting discouraged and quitting. I spent a few days at 5k steps, then 6k steps and then a week at 8k steps a day before working my way up to 10k steps.
The physical AND mental benefits of this kind of daily movement are undeniable, and I was beyond ready to feel them! To be clear, this commitment I made for myself started as more of a “gentle wellness reset”, not an aggressive bootcamp. Yes I break a sweat and push myself more and more each day, but I also pause to pet puppies, collect heart rocks, smell flowers and take lots of deep breaths on these daily walks/runs. This personal wellness challenge has been more about “feeling better” than it has been about “looking better”.
After just a week of consistent walking, I started noticing it became easier to make better food choices, increasing my protein and fiber (but not doing a restrictive diet). I’ve been taking my supplements, drinking my Ningxia and focusing on healthy hydration (goodbye soda). These are a handful of little things that have already made a big difference in so many areas of my life! I have more energy, better focus, feel stronger and have been sleeping better!
My go-to “walking playlist”. I like to listen to songs that make me feel something when I’m walking. Usually sad songs, but (per my therapists recommendation) I’m working on adding more happy tunes into the mix, lol.
And for a bit more of an upbeat vibe, here’s what I love to listen to!
Here’s a little roundup of my tried and true walking essentials from amazon. That belt is super minimal and what I use to carry my phone and keys. Wrist weights for days I want to push more, over the ear headphones of course, thinner socks (I can’t stand thicker socks when I’m exercising, or ever).
I track my steps with the Oura ring and I swear by it. It took me a while to order it because of the hefty price tag, but ultimately I took the leap because it tracks everything I’m interested in (sleep, steps, stress, heart rate, oxygen levels, calories, distance, etc) and it has a really long battery life. The shoes are like walking on clouds and remember sunscreen is non-negotiable! This one is tinted and glowy (and IMO it’s better than the popular, more expensive options out there)!
