Day 10 ... and walking

Setting a goal is kind of easy and fun. It's exciting to have a new project to work on. It's exciting to imagine meeting the goal and feeling fabulous and maybe getting a prize.

Meeting a goal is also exciting. You feel accomplished and successful and maybe you have something to show for what you did. Plus, bragging rights!

The middle of goal... the bit that requires the actual work. Let's be honest. That bit is not that fun. It's work! And really, it can be hard to stay motivated. I have managed staying motivated though and I am hitting my 10 day mark!! Woooo!!! I'm a third of the way through.

The thing that has helped me the most the last few days has been routine. I am getting used to thinking about how to get 10,000 steps a day, so no matter what I am doing I am planning my next walk. If I have to drive to work, I already have a plan of how I am going to fit little walks in during the day. If I walk to work and have to get a ride home, I know where to add steps in so I can still reach my goal. Making the 10,000 steps a part of my day instead of something that I just added on to my to-do list has helped keep my walking the last 3 days when life gets busy!

Stats!:

Distance: Monday was 6 miles, Tuesday was 6.5, and Wednesday was 6.5. Not bad distances really. That brings my total mileage to 53.5. I am on I-39 now just passing Lindenwood, IL. Not bad for 10 days.

Mood: Dragging a bit. After writing this entry and looking at my totals and seeing how far I have come makes me feel a lot better. I think I need to look at my map more often. I am tired. I have a lot of life going on right now. My feet are sore from walking, but I need to remember, I am getting somewhere. If nothing else, I am participating in science by experimenting and documenting my results and that just makes the geek in me smile!

Sleep: I am sleeping better. Still stress dreaming, but I am pretty sure that is not related to the walking. I may just need to add mediation to my bedtime routine. Also, some stretchy band exercises would be good. I sleep better when I have some core muscles, as strange as that sounds. We'll see how ambitious I get.

Today's Motivation:

If I want to make changes and I want them to stick, then I need to change my routine.

There's enough surprises that come up everyday that any plans I have to change my life will be derailed in 2-3 days if I the changes I make aren't just part of my daily routine. So, walking is part of my routine now. I can live with that.