Monday, January 4, 2021

One Small Step

Other than a few specific goals (see below for one of them), my overall plan for 2021 is to move in a positive direction, to choose projects or tasks that will move me in a "creative" direction or in a "healthy" direction, etc. I have no idea if this will work, but even though 2020 sucked the oomph out of me, I still want to enter 2021 with a bounce in my step. 

 

"The good life is a process, not a state of being. 

It is a direction not a destination."

Carl Rogers


Speaking of direction and moving, did I mention I plan to walk 500 miles this year?

 

Yes, for some of you that's a piece of cake, but since my steps consist mostly of me going from my desk to the kitchen to get a piece of cake, this is huge. 

 

My husband and I signed up for this virtual challenge to encourage a healthy lifestyle, but it will be more than just a physical challenge for me. As someone who has perfectionist tendencies, the thought of falling behind and/or failing altogether makes me incredibly anxious. But one of the things I told myself - other than that I've lost my mind - is that any miles I walk because of this challenge are miles I might not have walked otherwise. Any accumulation will be an accomplishment. 

 

I'll do the occasional update here on the blog. It will be much like tracking the progress of a tortoise. If I'm lucky.  

 

Miles Walked as of 1/4/2021 = 5.6/500

 

*****


Did you make any resolutions, set goals? Or are you keeping it a little looser like I am? Anything you'd recommend for my walks – music/podcasts/audio books to listen to, sneakers, socks, workout clothes, etc? 


34 comments:

  1. Good for you! I recommend a good pair of shoes as you'll be in them often. Between walking and running, I tend to blow through three or four pair a year.

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    1. Thanks, Alex! I have an older pair I really like, but I probably should pick up a new pair of those soon.

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  2. I like to listen to music when I walk. I create playlists for whatever WIP I'm working on, and I'll listen to it while walking and just let my mind wander. And definitely comfortable shoes. :)

    I love the overall plan of moving in a positive direction. It sounds like the perfect goal to me.

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    1. I rarely listen to music, but that might be a good thing to try, especially as the year goes on when I might need something to perk up my walks. :)

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  3. Yay for you and your husband, Madeline. You can do this! I challenged myself to "walk" from Aurora, Colorado to St. Anthony, Newfoundland when I first retired. As of Saturday (and 8.5 years later), I'm at 7037.5 miles (and long past St. Anthony). Just focus on the next mile, the next mile. You'll be surprised at how they add up. Wishing you happy, moving feet in 2021!

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    1. Thanks so much, Louise! I'm hoping that seeing the miles add up will help keep me motivated. :)

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  4. Writing down your goals could be the first goal of 2021. You'd be ahead of the game! :)

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  5. Fantastic goal! I feel thwarted and overwhelmed at the moment, so my goals will be purely writing-based, and keeping a semblance of a workout programme going through our latest lockdown :-(

    Good luck with the walking. I'm sure once you get started, you'll see the miles fly past x

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    1. I thought of you when I heard about the lockdown - ugh! I know you'll definitely keeping working out, though. Not like me, who'd just shrug and sit on the couch. :)

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  6. No goals for me. Just to get up every day and make something of it. I like that idea of 500 miles though. Not only is is a great challenge, it will help you develop good habits. Happy New Year.

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    1. I actually really like this, Liza - "Just to get up every day and make something of it."

      There was actually a 100 mile challenge, but why I should I ever pick the easier way? :o

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  7. That's a great goal. And it's good that your husband is supporting you in it too.

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    1. He can actually walk a lot faster and a lot longer than I can, but he stays by my side. :)

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  8. Walking more is also on my intention list. I already walk with the dog, but that's not great exercise because of the stop-and-sniff pace. I need to make time to walk on my own, keeping a steady pace with no lallygagging.

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    1. A similar thing happens when we walk on the beach - too busy stopping and looking for shells! Even in the neighborhood, I tend to look round, but I'm at least able to keep a steadier pace there. The "dreadmill" is the best for that, but it's so BORING. :)

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  9. Happy New Year, Madeline! I've made quite a few resolutions. I want to get back in shape too, and I definitely want to live frugally. I did some significant damage to my bottom line last year with too much online shopping, so I really want to turn that around and be smarter with my money--not just for this year, but for the rest of my life.

    Good luck with your goals. And Happy New Year!

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    1. Those sound like good goals, JH, and I have no doubt you'll accomplish them! :) And please try not to be so hard on yourself for last year - it was such a mess all around.

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    2. Thanks, Madeline. The not being hard on myself is definitely an ongoing struggle for me. But I'm hoping to make myself proud this year. :)

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  10. Wishing you a happy 2021.

    I think you can do it. You have right mindset. Just do what you can and not worry about the rest.

    Like you, 2021 for me is about being healthier, and to manage my stress better.

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    1. Thanks, Murees! It's funny how it's not only a physical challenge, but also a mental one.

      And I'm with you on managing the stress better. I used a meditation app on and off last year, and I did find it helped.

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  11. Love that goal! I do set goals, but since I was struck down by Achilles tendonitis last fall (actually it was coming on before then), I am limited to 10-12 minute walks right now. I tried going further, and it hurt, and then my physical therapist told me to stop. So, the walking thing...I love it, but can't really do much of it. However, I can do 10 minutes. And, more than once a day, so my goal is to do 10 minutes twice a day until I can do more.
    Happy 2021!

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    1. Take care of yourself and don't push too much! I'm trying not to overdo the walking by getting all super-duper gung-ho because I know if I do, I'll end up hurting myself.

      Happy 2021 to you, too!

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  12. You've already seen my goals, so I won't bother you with them here. What I can say helps me: dressing in layers. I will usually go for light pants and a tank top, with a long sleeve shirt over that, and a jacket on top of that. I'll strip off the jacket once I've moved enough not to freeze, and then the long sleeve shirt depending on what pace I'm keeping. It's hard to get going when it's cold, but it's hard to keep going when you're hot. I have to pep-talk myself through every second of the last bit of effort when that happens. I made the mistake of wearing sweatpants once, and it turned my walk into a serious struggle.

    Are you using a pedometer to check your mileage or just keeping track of set routes?

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    1. Thanks, Loni! The colder weather - or what passes for it here in FL - doesn't bother me as much as the heat. I'm hoping I can get a good chunk of miles in while the weather here is so nice.

      My husband has an app on his phone that we use to track our miles, but we're also starting to make notes of set routes.

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  13. I'd like to see myself get healthier. Eat right. Walking between the fridge and the couch hasn't helped me much. ;-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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    1. That route sounds awfully familiar. How come I've never passed you on my way to the fridge? :)

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  14. No real resolutions for this year. Like you, I want and need to exercise more. I took a few book recommendations from your list. I've only read one of them before. Thank you!

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    1. Excellent on the book recommendations! I hope you enjoy the ones you chose. :)

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  15. I don't make resolutions. I do make goals, but not necessarily yearly goals. I tend to think in smaller increments, like weekly tasks/goals for my writing. This year has taught me not to think too far ahead, but that's not a bad thing necessarily.

    Good for you on the walking! I try to walk most days if the weather is not pouring, which it often is in Oregon. I've been lately getting into some indoor walking workouts for the rainy days.

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    1. If it rains that often, I'd probably never go walking. I'd probably just go back to bed. :) For me, it's more about the heat, especially in the summer. I'm hoping the more walking I do now while it's cooler, the more used to it I'll be, the fitter I'll be, in the summer months. Fingers crossed!

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  16. A virtual challenge is such a great idea!

    I always make the same resolution every year - to eat better. But then cake beckons and well . . . you know how that ends :)

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    1. We did a virtual 5k last year, and it was so much less pressure. I was able to take more breaks, go at my own pace, and not feel like I was falling so far behind the pack.

      Ah, the siren's call of cake! I know it far too well.... :)

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  17. "Move in a positive direction." I love that. I think that's what a lot of us will be doing this year and are hoping for in the US and all around the world.

    When I take walks, I listen to music to get myself moving, or I have silence to help me work/walk through problems. :)

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    1. One of the things I like about the idea is that it's so open, it can mean different things in different areas of our lives, but it's all good. :)

      I usually like silence when outside but definitely need something - podcast, music, etc - when on the "dreadmill." :)

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