My Wellness Era

Sometimes getting in your step goal for the day seems like it should be so easy right? 10,000 steps a day? No problem. I must walk a million. Between getting my kids ready to go in the morning, going up and down the steps (with loads of laundry in hand), and the consistent movement from one chore to the next, it seems nearly impossible to miss my step goals.

But the harsh reality is that when I looked down at my fitness tracker at the end of the day, I was only hitting between 4K and 6K steps a day. That was on a good day. It could be so discouraging because I already felt maxed out. Here are 3 things I did to start hitting my step goals everyday.

1. I Started Being Intentional

Like most goals in life, we don’t hit our step goal by accident. We have to have a plan. I started playing around with what I needed to do to supplement my daily movement to hit my goals.

For me this was taking about a mile long walk in the morning and in the evening. Turns out I just needed to be intentional about getting my steps in. I also love the idea of being out first thing in the morning and being in the sunshine to start my day. I noticed that my mood started to improve when I started my day walking specifically outside in the sunshine. I also tried to time my second walk after dinner to help stabilize my blood sugar after eating. Associating the walk with other benefits and being able to feel as though my walks were going even further than just helping me hit my movement goals gave me extra motivation.

2. I Brought Others With Me

When we are on a wellness journey, it can feel like we are sacrificing a lot. We may say no to that treat we always loved but didn’t make us feel good, we may be tired and sore, or we may spend more time at the gym.

As a mom the last thing I want to sacrifice is time with my kids. If it takes me 20 minutes to walk a mile after dinner, that is 20 minutes I don’t have with my husband and my kids. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we need alone time. This is a great opportunity for you to take time for yourself is that is what is needed. For me, I work during the day and don’t get as much time with my kiddos as I would like. I need that time with them. So one of the boys will usually accompany me on my evening walks.

This way I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything. We have great conversations, get outside and away from our screens, and have intentional time just the two of us. I also get a little extra resistance pushing the stroller.

Also, if you struggle with staying motivated, tell your toddler that you will take a walk with them after dinner. In toddler speak you are basically writing it in stone. You will be taking that walk.

3. I Bought A Walking Pad

Ok, hear me out on this one. At first when I realized it only went up to 4.0 MPH I was skeptical. My cardio of choice is running, so the idea that it only went up to 4.0 left me unenthusiastic. After much internal debate, I realized that while running was a great form of cardio, the goal was steps. Moving more. Being less sedentary. Having a walking pad was a tool in my toolbelt to meet that goal.

I am able to report that I LOVE it. On days when the weather isn’t great, I must catch up on my favorite Netflix show, or I simply just want to be in the air conditioning it gave me a great option.

I will link the one I bought here. So far it was worked beautifully and I would highly recommend.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare professional for health concerns. This post may contain affiliate links from which we earn commission. We are dedicated to only sharing products that we love and use regularly.