I’ll be honest: I picked the absolute wrong season to start walking 10K steps a day. I live in South Georgia, where temperatures hover above 90 degrees most days. We are well below the gnat line, which means those tiny pests are a constant companion, and just to keep things interesting, afternoon thunderstorms seem to pop up almost daily. Nothing says “healthy lifestyle” quite like walking 10,000 steps a day while sweating through your clothes and swatting gnats away from your face.
That said, getting more movement into my daily routine has been one of the best decisions I’ve made recently.
At 35, single, and without children, I often find myself with plenty of free time, especially since I’m not much of a television watcher. Over the years, I’ve filled some of those hours with reading books, hobbies, and creative projects. If you’ve followed along for a while, you’ve probably seen my posts about various adult arts-and-crafts adventures.
Lately, though, I’ve been spending more of that free time outside and on the move. Despite the heat, humidity, insects, and unpredictable weather, it’s been a welcome change of pace and a reminder that sometimes the things we need most aren’t always the most convenient.
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How I started walking 10,000 steps a day
I’ve always enjoyed walking. There’s something refreshing about being outside, especially when I can take my dog for a stroll around the neighborhood. Typically, though, my walks were short, usually a mile or less.
Everything changed about six weeks ago.
I started seeing videos of inn-to-inn walking adventures, and one in particular caught my attention. I’ve long known about the Cotswold Way, but this time I stumbled across a solo female traveler documenting her journey along the 100-mile route over nine days. Watching her experience was incredibly inspiring. She shared the physical challenges, the emotional highs and lows, and the determination it took to keep going day after day. Some days she walked 8 miles. Others stretched to 15-20. Every stage looked both intimidating and rewarding.
As I watched, I found myself thinking, What if I could do that someday?
I decided to start building my stamina with the goal of one day tackling the route myself. I decided that maybe walking 10K steps a day was a good start!
Part of that motivation came from my own trip to England this past April. My mom and I spent one memorable day walking nearly 7 miles along a public footpath through the countryside. It was one of my favorite experiences from the trip. Looking back on that day reminded me how much joy I find in simply putting one foot in front of the other, taking in the scenery, and letting the journey unfold at its own pace.
That combination of inspiration and memory was enough to get me moving. Six weeks later, I’m still at it.
Those first few weeks were pretty modest. I was walking 1.5 to 2 miles at a time, maybe totaling six miles for the entire week.
Fast forward to today, and things look a little different.
Most mornings, you’ll find me out the door around 6:30 a.m., knocking out a few miles before the day really begins. Anyone who knows me knows I am not naturally a morning person, but when you live in South Georgia, you quickly learn that early morning offers the coolest temperatures you’ll get. You have to take advantage of it.
As much as I hate admitting it, all those morning people may have been onto something. Starting the day with a walk really does set a positive tone for everything that follows.
Most days, I walk for an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Even at sunrise, I’m usually sweating by the time I finish, but I feel energized and accomplished for the rest of the day. Since my job keeps me planted behind two computer screens in an office, those miles have become an important way to balance out the hours I spend sitting.
If the weather cooperates, I’ll sometimes head back out around sunset for another walk when temperatures start to ease up. One advantage I have is living near a school with an excellent sidewalk loop that’s about 0.4 miles per lap, making it easy to track distance and keep moving.
Last week, I set a goal of walking 10 miles. Between work commitments, summer thunderstorms, and life in general, I wasn’t sure I’d make it. Somehow, though, I ended up blowing that goal out of the water and finishing the week with 23.00 miles. For the month of June, I got in 119.5 miles! That blows my mind. Just walking, y’all. No running. No fancy workout plan. Just putting one foot in front of the other.
I’m not training for a marathon, and I don’t have a lofty fitness goal with a deadline attached. Right now, I’m simply enjoying the process of moving more, spending time outdoors, and proving to myself that small, consistent efforts can add up to something meaningful. Six weeks ago, the idea of walking 23 miles in a week seemed impossible. Today, it feels like a stepping stone toward an even bigger adventure. Whether I ever make it to the Cotswold Way or not (or my newest obsession, the algorithm has fed me: The Vermont Inn-to-Inn Walking Tour), this journey has already reminded me that sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is start where we are, take the first step, and see where the path leads.
xx, Sami
Walking Essentials to start walking 10K steps a day!
It is the seventh level of hell, HOT in South GA, I live below the gnat line, and those stupid pests are awful. I purchased this walking pad for my evening walks, where I cannot find it in myself to fight against the 90+ degree heat and bugs. Or if it is really storming outside. 10/10 so far. I have been rewatching Off Campus while walking, and it’s been a fun hang. I have not tried working on a laptop while walking because I am scared of busting my tail.
The cool aunt. Plant novice who loves to travel to cool places, eat unadventurous food, and take pretty photos.
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