One simple goal of 10,000 steps a day | #21
Small positive changes as catalyse for a healthy lifestyle when times feels hard
Hey friends,
This week I have been working on a long-form piece for
about how a repressed desire to paint emerged out of writing in community so this is going to be a short one!Sometimes all we need is just one simple goal to anchor our days to and that can become the catalyst for more. I found this to be true when I was going through my latest spell of feeling low, disassociated and untethered.
In times like this, it always feels like there is a grey cloud hanging over my head and as a high-functioning, always-on-the-go person I don’t like being in this state because I can’t do anything. The only thing I seem to be able to do is keep ruminating on the question of ‘what is the point of life?’
The one simple goal I went back to was to get to 10,000 steps a day. A simple goal of getting myself out of the house and walking — no specific destination, no speed, no requirements to run. Just get the step count.
The weekend before last, I tried to kick this off in a half-arsed manner walking 5,910 and 6,177 steps respectively. Then Monday came and while spending two hours on the phone to a friend I hit my goal. Once I reached that goal, the one on Tuesday felt more achievable. And by Wednesday I was on a roll.
While the goal seems deceivingly simple, it has many positive prongs to it. It is a daily goal which means effort needs to be made to reaching it each and every day. And lifestyle changes needs to happen to make room for it. For example, yesterday I was at art school all day followed by dinner with a friend. I knew that if I didn’t get at least half of my steps in before I went to art school, there was a high chance I’d not get it if dinner went on late. Not wanting to risk it, I was incentivised to wake up early and get my steps in through a morning walk. I ended up intermittently walking and jogging for forty minutes and by the time I cycled to art school, I’d hit my 10,000 steps.
As the run felt great yesterday, it led to me making an effort to wake up early today to go for another run. While writing this, I already know that I will be waking up tomorrow morning bright and early to get another run in because it feels amazing to be up and out at that hour and to know I am doing something good for my body.
I get low moods and have been learning to put in things that helps me in those times. If you ever feel this way or feel like you need a reset, just find one small goal you can do each day. Make it a goal that you don’t overthink or question too hard. Make it one that feels good and then see where it takes you!
Love,
Caryn
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