walk more often

I made this goal a Personal Challenge, with a time limit of one month. I walked every day for that month, but I forgot to click the ‘I did it’ button, so it registered as a Fail :(

On the other hand, I haven’t checked off the goal as done, since I stopped walking after the challenge ended. I meant to keep going, but I got depressed about not being able to find a job, and other problems I wont mention. I don’t have the energy to go out and walk; right now it’s hard enough to get out of bed in the morning.

I’ve recently moved, and with everything going on, I haven’t had the time or the energy to go outside much.

I have more time now, the exhaustion of moving is gone, and the weather is nice, so I have no excuse for staying in…but I’ve been finding it hard to motivate myself.

The longer I stay away from something, the harder it is to get back to it. Maybe it’s time to use that Personal Challenge again; it’s a good tool for breaking those vicious cycles.

There have been a few warm days, but the cold keeps coming back. It looks like spring is on it’s way, but winter doesn’t want to go. I would like to go to the park again, but it’s still too icy. And when the snow melts, it will be too muddy. I can’t even walk much on the sidewalks, becaue of all the snow and ice. – sigh – Mother Nature is making it difficult to do this goal.

today was a little warmer than usual, considering it’s february. i took the dog for a walk for maybe a half hour… i’m not sure.

i walked my dog today even though it was cold outside! 32 Farenheit, although with the windchill factor it felt like the 20s. It actually wasn’t too bad with my earwarmer headband and scarf and gloves… but by the time I headed back to the house my fingers were numb and my face hurt. anyway, i feel like this was a small triumph considering how bad i am in the cold.

two days ago i walked with my dog to the post office. tonight after coming home from dinner y and i took my dog for a nice long walk. it was really nice to walk leisurely at night, and luckily it was cool (ergo refreshing) but not too cold. the only things missing were stopping for gelato and running into other people taking a walk and chatting with them. ...and i suppose being in italy, for a genuine post-meal passegiata. but still, a quiet town with plenty of sidewalks is still pretty wonderful.

two days ago i walked with my dog to the post office, to take a step in achieving my send-a-letter-every-month goal. on the way back i stopped in the new craft shop in town to look at what classes they were offering. had a nice chat with the woman in the shop, and then she even let me take my dog inside! so i think it was a very good outing for both me and my dog.

I was let down again by my lack of organisation / planning / self-discipline on Saturday and ended up driving to the post office when it’s within easy walking distance. I did walk to the hairdresser’s that afternoon and walked to the supermarket this evening.

I’ve just come back from a few days in London. I always walk miles when I am there, without having to make any particular effort. I’d like it to be like that in my daily life here – but I’m not sure how I’d achieve that. I suppose getting rid of my car would be one way to make it happen – but I’m not sure if I am ready to do that.

So what makes this goal “happen” naturally in London?
*no car / reliant on public transport
*more time on my hands (as I’m always on holiday when I am there)
*generally with R – I’m more likely to walk when I am with him anyway
I think to be walking more here, time is the key factor at the moment. By time, I mean organising my time better. On week days I could commit to walking to yoga, and to the shops.

It’s not very far but I often leave it too late and end up taking the car. It feels much better walking there and back – I get some fresh air, it’s relaxing, there’s no parking stress and I feel better about myself.