One of my favorite activities is to exercise, and it’s actually one of the easiest to track. So, be prepared for some interactive charts, tips on how to start a routine, and I hope… ways to positively reinforce an exercise routine. But its parallel is more hard for me… Slowing down. So, in tandem with a concrete goal of moving more every day, I am adding meditation and mindfulness. Whether that’s using my less dexterous hand more, or actually taking a breath to live in the moment more, I’m trying to see the value of slowing down because I love moving. Yin yang, indeed.
June 29: Life talks and walks plus dancing with my bestie? Great way to get my steps!
June 28: Ran, Zumba, and a life talk and walk!
June 27: Hiking one of my favorite places!
June 26: Ran for 9 miles today!
June 23-25: Hiked, even in the rain, then later explored! Camp!
June 22: Hustling from moving, to relaxing walk and talk, to jogging!
June 21: Life walks and talks make a great day!
June 20: Moving-based steps, plus a low intensity virtual workout with my pal!
June 19: Nailed my goal by getting ready for my move.
June 18: Back to basics, hour run, core, and meditation. Later, explored a new-to-me park.
June 17: Galavanting throughout the city merited today’s steps.
June 16: Explored my alma mater for today’s steps!
June 15: Hiked 13.5 miles today!
June 14: Dad showed me a new-to-me bluff!
June 13: Today’s steps were from hiking! I also swam, meditated, and did a bunch of abs.
June 12: Hour run before camping. Then meditation.
June 11: Downtown spelunkin’ while listening to an audio play!
June 10: Explored some CAVES for today’s steps!
June 9: Hiked a nature preserve and meandered through a botanical garden for today’s steps.
June 8: Explored the shoreline and swam. Floating’s a kind of meditation?
June 7: Ran a cool 14 miles today, with a taco stop midway.
June 6: Swapped steps for swimming but still got my miles in, too.
June 5: So many sweets lately, so glad I’ve carved out time for abs/steps!
June 4: Hiked a sculpture garden and found a nearly vacant beach for today’s steps! Also, note from Sam: Repetition can equal meditation. Forces thought!
June 3: Swimming and Zumba tonight!
June 2: 2 hours of interval running/walking!
June 1: Sunshine run and walk!
May 31: Early am workout and pm Zumba, too!
May 30: Explored more on vacation for today’s steps and also swam!
May 29: New city, so even though I walked this morning, I didn’t get my abs/meditation. Later, finished steps by exploring my bro’s new city! So, so good to see him.
May 28: 6:45am workout in an attempt for some steps today since I’m working and driving for 17 hours today.
May 27: 7am and 11pm Zumba. Wouldn’t recommend.
May 26: Another indoor cardio in the morning and walk in the evening. I’ll take it.
May 25: Gnarly weather = morning cardio indoors. But a glorious walk and talk in the evening netted my steps!
May 24: Slogged through the run but then exercised throughout the day!
May 23: Tried to run but ended up with a full body workout at the beginning of the day and Zumba with my mom at the day’s end. I’ll take it.
May 22: Ran at 4:40am! With a pulsing light so I/other people could see! So I still managed my 15000+ steps, even with 11 hours of driving today!
May 21: Oof, run hurt this morning. Too much junk thoughts/food lately?
May 20: Needed today’s run after yesterday’s feast. Gratitude meditation helped, though.
May 19: Truth: Sometimes, I work out for pizza. Ran/Zumba-ed/walked.
May 18: Crushed it today: Ran, abs, meditated, CLIMBED (one of my faves, but I need to tone my arms!), walked, and danced.
May 17: Slow goin this morning, but I still ran. And meditated. And did abs. And later, Zumba-ed.
May 16: My morning started with a run for 70 minutes, 8 minutes of planking, and 10 minutes of meditation. Later, running after my godson and jungle-gymin’!
May 15: Starting the day with an hour of running really inspires me to rock the rest of the day.
May 14: “I will start my day with good energy. I am good energy,” said my meditation. And so I ran, worked, and kept going!
May 13: Runnin’ and cruisin’ with my cousin.
May 12: Ran, meditate, explored in the sunshine. Good day!
May 11: Morning run, evening stroll through a park. Me gusta.
May 10: 5:30am run. Oofdah. Later walked while listening to law of attraction studies. Calm.
May 9: Ran around 6am, then meditated on energy. Walked and danced through the last steps, meriting about 11 miles today.
May 8: Got up before 6am to run and meditate! On a Saturday! Got nearly 19 miles in today, due to the pantry event and exploring.
May 7: Ran early, family walk and talk, and self-walk? A good step in the right direction (sorry, had to) for balanced summer exercise.
May 6: Chasing after my godson with a soccer ball and sunshine all around us is exactly why I wake up early to exercise every day. Live for moments like these.
May 5: Ran and meditated early, walked late. As I break a sweat this morning, Matthew McConaughey confirms on the Joe Rogan pod, “everyone should break a sweat once/day.” Heard.
May 4: How I know I’m finally almost done with this cold? Much better run time this mornin’. Later, walked in the sun for the rest of the day’s steps goal.
May 3: Started my run before 6am, what what! Saw the moon again and beat the storm. Later, HIIT.
May 2: Started the day with nearly 12 miles of running, with the moon! And much more galavanting. Sleepy but satisfied.
May 1: Over SIXTEEN miles today. Ran, walked, Zumba-ed, walked some more.
April 30: Finally sweating off this cold. Feeling joyful, calm, collected. Amazed I’m still waking up early. Just jogging and walking right now.
April 29: Meditation really calms me down. Going to try to integrate it when I feel the urge to move. Later, attempted a Brittney Spears workout. Happy jams for my current sniffly self.
April 28: Ran, meditation on JOY, and later danced!
April 27: Still got steps in even though I’m feeling sick. Mornings are now my fave part of the day.
April 26: Ran early, walked late (in the sunshine both times)!
April 25: 13 miles in steps today: ran, walked, Zumba-ed with Sam!
April 24: So at peace today. Multiple meditative walks and an early morning run, even on a Saturday.
April 23: Ran in the morning and later life talked and walked. Good day.
April 22: Ran in the snow this morning. Yep, I’m that person. But it helped me run after my godson later in the day. While dribbling. In the sunshine. Midwest weather logic.
April 21: Woke up extra early to beat the snow. Ran, lifted, abs, meditated. Later, danced through last steps. Focusing on good protein to fuel my strength.
April 20: Today’s run and meditation was contemplative, especially paired with one of the books I’m reading by the Dalai Lama. He says letting go of thought creates true headspace. Oof.
April 19: Ran in the rain right away today then really felt anxious during my guided meditation. Could not feel present as time has been a huge, nearly burdensome gift. Later, calmed down with walking and tea.
April 18: 1 week in a row of morning runs and meditations! I also galivanted downtown, resulting in 10+ miles today.
April 17: Started my day early with an hour-long run, then continued to work out and meditated. Later, explored my city via walking, totaling 12+ miles. Lovin’ the sunshine.
April 16: Woke up at 6:30 to run/work on abs and strength/meditate. Whoa. As the sun tuned purple, I later finished step goal with a walk.
April 15: Even with an upset stomach, I still ran, did abs, and meditated this morning. Cool to keep exercise as bookends to the day (besides reading time before bed).
April 14: I hope this morning run/abs/meditation routine sticks. It’s optimized by reading before bed, instead of screening. It’s a small goal of running 30-45 minutes. Next week, I think I’ll try to wake 5 minutes earlier. Small steps (literally)!
April 13: Ran/abs/happiness meditation this morning, that rippled into celebrity advice. Joe Rogan is amazing. Completed today’s steps by walking and life talking with my bro, then onto reading when I’m done here!
April 12: Woke up early to run, did an abs finisher, then breathing heavy, did a meditation on gratitude. Music was upbeat, so that was different. After work, I stepped into the sunshine before a quick pantry meeting.
April 11: Started my day with you deserve happiness meditation (lasted 7 minutes, lol) then spent my day in thought and movement, resulting in over 10 miles!
April 4-10: 1/7 days meditating. 6/7 days getting steps. Resistance training felt amazing. Working on brain-body connection to foster self-esteem.
April 3: 9+ mil run in the sunshine!
April 2: Walk-talk then Zumba.
April 1: Zumba after cousin time!
March 31: Nope. Meditation, mileage, and another early morning did not happen. Gained friend time, lost steps. Opportunity cost.
March 30: I know a certain commercial says that no one cares that I woke up early… But I did! 30 minutes early. To run. Also, I walked and jumping-jacked my way through my goal.
March 29: Walked through the sunshine AND my steps.
March 28: Run was very meditative today.
March 27: Ran for an hour!
March 26: Walk and Zumba crushed my goals today!
March 25: Just a walk and talk today. That’s better than nothing.
March 24: Cranked out 90 minutes of cardio!
March 23: Unexpected break but I’d rather have friend time, even if it means taking a day off earlier in the week.
March 22: A sunny 90 minute run on a Monday? I’ll take it!
March 21: Got steps in the sun and finished with so. Many. Jumping. Jacks.
March 20: Ran nearly 10 miles today in 80 minutes!
March 19: I’m okay with making 2/3 of steps by exploring during the DAY. It’s not a full day off exercising but still a good break from routine.
March 18: Walked and danced again.
March 17: Walking, dancing, and strength training today.
March 16: Life talk and walk plus Zumba make a very tired Kaylie. Emotionally drained right now.
March 15: Walked as the snow started to fall (it’s back) and Zumba-d.
March 14: Zumba-d through my steps today.
March 13: Ran and walked on this sunny day!
March 12: Listening to mindfulness talks ≠ being mindful.
March 11: Gave myself some screen-free walking in the blustery air.
March 10: Ran again today! 3 days in a row!
March 9: Ran in the sunshine AND walked and talked today! My fave independent and collaborative Covid friendly exercises.
March 8: With the setting sun as my timer, I ran 7 miles in less than 50 minutes after work today!
March 7: Ran for 90 minutes today!
March 6: Ran, then went on a walk with the bf for my delightful, sunny steps today.
March 5: Practicing active breaks is hard. But I’m at 1 break from the daily workout every 2 weeks.
March 4: Walked and danced!
March 3: DANCING through steps is way more fun than forcing all steps into one time.
March 2: Ran outside after work! Gooooaaaallls!
March 1: Stuffed entire steps into 80 minutes.
February 28: Blogged on running and how it feels like physical meditation.
February 27: Running as release… Thanks, Kaitlyn!
February 26: Ran for 80 minutes today in the sunlight!
February 25: Letting myself take a break after 9 miles yesterday. Still hard to give myself grace.
February 24: Pep in my dancing steps today!
February 23: Walked earned steps. Felt contemplative, meditative.
February 22: Zumba’d steps!
February 21: Ran a cool 12.7 miles today. Meditative yet fast… and accidental!
February 20: Crushed steps with outdoor adventures. Hello, 40 degree days!
February 19: Gave myself grace aka a day off running. Raynaud’s is real. But I still meditated this morning!
February 18: Routine > motivation. Got my steps in by taking time. Not happily. But still done.
February 17: Prepped last night to start the day with meditation! Ended with laps around my bf’s mom’s. I’ll take 2 successes today, thank you very much!
February 16: Chased the sunset and danced. Prepped tonight to give time for morning meditation.
February 15: I miss running, so I let myself do 30 minutes of agility drills. All those YouTube workouts have come in handy! Also stretched tissues which feels like moving yoga.
February 14: 2 exercise blocks > 1. And more fun.
February 13: 2 chill workouts merited my steps. But still saddened that the snowfall prevented my Saturday run routine.
February 12: Gave myself SPACE to glide through steps at my bf’s mom’s wonderful basement.
February 11: Gave myself TIME to get ‘er done!
February 10: Two-thirds of my steps were squished into an hour. Though I still made ’em happen, it wasn’t particularly joyful as I did not give them the right headspace and physical space.
February 9: Meditating after work set the evening. Meaning steps were stuffed in a shorter time, but good work on the class letter and at my place still happened.
February 8: Danced and boxed today. No mediation but used breathing and listing to sort responsibilities.
February 7: Danced through steps again!
February 6: Joyfully dancing and walking/talking.
February 5: Walking and dancing got my foot lose!
February 4: First time mediating without an app for guidance! Much calmer. And shoveling has provided half my steps each day lately. But pulled through with dance!
February 3: New class compared meditation to working in one’s head office and recommends doing it first thing. Later, did 2 HOURS of exercise, including 30 minutes of lifting!
February 2: Meditating after work gave me clarity for the evening, resulting in 60 minutes of leg shaping, 30 minutes of straight cardio, using my new coffee maker (the old one started smoking so they mailed me a replacement!), and reading!
February 1: Walking is my best solution for soreness from yesterday’s shoveling. Got steps in, barely.
January 31: 4 hours of shoveling, 40 minutes of Zumba, and 10 minutes of “Santosha” meditation. Steps in. Brain and body exhausted.
January 30: Calm video told me to consider timelessness. Lol #fail. I’d love to be in “scheduled flow”, oxymoron but true. But my run today led to 30 minutes of book/poetry writing.
January 29: Another 7:40 meditation but fell asleep. Later, did one of my fave habit combos: life walk and talk. Only needed some Zumba to finish steps.
January 28: Slogged through 7:40am meditation BUT gave myself time to workout, resulting in 90 minutes of exercise. Endurance trumps intensity (yesterday’s workout) when there’s enough time/space to get ‘er done.
January 27: 40 minutes of cardio twice = landed 15,000 steps. Barely. But woke up at 7:40 for mindfulness meditation!
January 26: Today’s a win! I woke up at 7:40 for 10 minutes of loving kindness meditation, followed by 10 minutes of gratitude journaling. After work and helping my gal pal with a logo, I exercised, then took a break to make dinner and finish Disenchantment with my bf, then worked out again. That protein-packed meal and good conversation made the second half of the workout much easier and fun! So now I just have to figure out how to do 2 powerful workouts in a day because the first one was sloggy from hunger, despite the logo fun.
January 25: One of the last assignments of my Yale course is to practice one well being exercise daily for the next 4 weeks… and tell people about it. So, I hope to meditate every morning for 10 minutes, as soon as I wake up. I took the class at 6pm, so here’s hoping for a slight transition to my work in progress morning routine tomorrow. Steps: 30 minutes of MMA and 60 minutes of Zumba.
January 24: SO much fun, thwarting hedonic adaptation. AKA shaking up the day by doing what I love throughout the day. 3 30-minute segments of exercise, including MMA, Karate, and Zumba. That’s what leggings are for. And I was less sad about the Packers losing (again) since I had work to do!