Simple Tips for Restarting Your Walking Routine After Summer
This post is part of our Summer of Simple Walking series. Check out the intro post
for more information and links to other helpful posts.
For many of us, there’s nothing routine about the summer months. Once the kids come home with a backpack full of the year’s memories and until they head out the door with hundreds of dollars in brand new school supplies, everything feels a little…off-balance. Regular daily routines are replaced with vacations and weekend activities and play time with friends and different camp schedules every week. And while you may have been used to taking a walk every day at the same time, summer schedules (or a lack thereof) suddenly had you reworking routines and relying on Walking Snacks to help you stay active.
If your walking routine changed drastically over the summer—or if your daily walks turned into weekly walks (or maybe no walks at all)—you’re not alone. But fortunately, as you settle back into the routines of the school year, you don’t have to start from scratch. You just need to readjust a little.
Here are some tips for getting back to your routines after another crazy summer:
Tip 1: It Doesn’t Have to Be All or Nothing
Sure, you used to walk three miles a day. But you’ve lived a whole lot of life since then. Don’t expect yourself to jump right back in where you left off.
Instead of pushing yourself to go farther or faster or longer than you’ve gone all summer, give yourself a little grace. Just make a point of getting out there—how long/far/fast doesn’t matter. Movement matters. And 10 minutes counts.
Tip 2: Start with Some Small Wins
To build off Tip 1: you may have once gone for long walks every day, but if the summer threw off your routines, don’t expect yourself to jump right back in. Because those long walks that seemed totally easy in April may be exhausting now—and if you get discouraged, you’ve got a better chance of giving up altogether.
Instead of setting yourself up for frustration and failure, start small. Instead of being disappointed in yourself for giving up before you hit three miles, try for one mile—and be proud of yourself for making it.
Whether it’s a 10-minute walk, a quick walk around the neighborhood, or an easy after-dinner stroll, each walk it an accomplishment—and a step toward getting settled back into old routines. Celebrate them—and maybe try to go a little farther or walk a little longer tomorrow (or next week).
Tip 3: Schedule It
If you treat your walks like something that you’ll just fit into the spaces in your schedule, you’re less likely to find the time. Something else will always come up. Or you’ll end up taking those few minutes and getting caught up in the latest social media gossip.
The only way to make your walking routine stick is if you make it a priority. Schedule it the same way you’d schedule a business meeting or a doctor’s appointment. Block off the time, and don’t let anyone talk you into giving it up.
Sometimes it helps to attach your walking time to something that’s already on the schedule. Walk during your lunch break…or after dinner…or before you leave for work…or after you drop the kids off at school.
If you schedule it and make it a routine, you’re more likely to stick with it.
Tip 4: Plan Ahead
During the school year, I set my walking clothes out at night, so I won’t even have to think about putting them on in the morning.
Planning ahead reduces the second-guessing—and eliminates the excuses. If your watch and your earbuds are charged, your clothes are setting out, and your essentials are packed, you’ve got no excuses. You also don’t have to take the time to think about what you should wear (which can definitely be an issue if you’re not a morning person).
If you eliminate all of those decisions and excuses, you’ll just have to follow through, right?
Tip 5: Take Advantage of Cooler Weather
Summer walks can be beautiful, but they can also be hot. As we move toward the end of August, the temperatures start to become more bearable—especially in the mornings and evenings. Planning your walks for the beginning or end of the day means that you’ll be able to enjoy a refreshing walk instead of a sweaty one.
Tip 6: Make Your Walks Something You Look Forward To
There are so many health and wellness benefits to a daily walk—but, admittedly, that might not always be enough to get you up and moving day after day. So find a way to make it a treat—whether that means listening to a favorite podcast or entertaining audiobook, exploring scenic paths, or treating yourself to coffee afterward.
Tip 7: Build Walking into Everyday Life
We’ve talked about this often during the summer: you’re more likely to stick with a walking routine if it fits into your life. Find ways to make it fit—whether that means walking while the kids are at practice, walking after you drop them off at school, or just fitting Walking Snacks into your day.
Tip 8: Find an Accountability Partner
Sticking to a new routine can be tough when you’re on your own. But it can be a whole lot easier when you’ve got someone else working through it with you and holding you accountable. You can join a local walking group or find someone who’s happy to walk with you—whether it’s your spouse, a neighbor, or a coworker.
Tip 9: Celebrate Consistency
As you’re getting back into your walking routine, the important thing is showing up. Don’t worry about how far you walked today. Don’t worry about your pace. Focus on the fact that you made a point of walking, day after day, even if it wasn’t always easy. That’s worth celebrating!
Tip 10: Expect Imperfect Weeks
Yes, you should absolutely be working on your consistency—and you should celebrate it. But don’t let one bad day throw you off track. There will be days when something just gets in the way. But making walking a routine means that one small setback won’t stop you from getting back out there tomorrow.
Tip 11: Just. Keep. Walking.
Summer seasons can be busy and chaotic. They can easily throw you off your routines. Fortunately, though, there’s no rule that says you can’t start again. And again. And again.
Whether your last walk was yesterday—or back in May before the kids got out of school—now is the perfect time to reach for your favorite walking shoes and start again.
