I’m Joining the Million Moves Challenge: Let’s Get Moving

September is going to be a little different for me.

I’m moving house, starting my Spring Reset, and on 1 September I’m also joining the Million Moves Challenge and I’ll be encouraging Mike to join in. I’m sharing this post early as I’d love you to join me. I’ll be posting my Million Moves to Instagram regularly so you can also follow what I’m doing Instagram @womenlivingwellafter50

And I’m excited about this one.

Not because I need another fitness goal.

But because I love the idea of looking at movement differently and every minute of movement counts!

Movement isn’t just exercise

When we think about exercise, we often picture a gym session, a run, a fitness class or a structured workout. And yes, those things are important. But movement is so much more than that.

It’s walking around the block.

Gardening.

Stretching.

Dancing to a few favourite songs.

Walking while talking on the phone.

Playing with the grandchildren.

Taking the stairs.

Doing some yoga or mobility work.

Getting outside for a walk in nature.

Even those little moments when we get up from our chair instead of staying seated.

The Million Moves resources include ideas for 15, 30 and 60 minutes of movement, which I love because it reminds us that movement doesn’t have to take an hour to be worthwhile.

Sometimes we have an hour, sometimes we can only spare 15 minutes.

And sometimes we simply have five minutes to get up and move.

It all counts towards creating a more active life.

Why Million Moves fits my Spring Reset

My Spring Reset is about making space for what’s next. I’m looking at my home, my energy, my health, my mindset and the way I want to spend this next chapter of my life. Movement naturally belongs in that picture.

At 69, I want to keep doing the things I enjoy. I want to run, travel, explore, stay strong, move well and be able to participate fully in my life. But I also know that staying active isn’t just about the workouts I schedule.

It’s about the movement I build into my everyday life. And that’s something I want to pay more attention to.

I’m curious about what I’ll discover

One of the things I like about taking on a challenge is that it makes you more aware.

Perhaps I’ll notice how much I actually move during a day and discover opportunities to move that I’ve overlooked. I might find that some of my everyday activities add up to far more than I realised.

But most of all I’m hoping I’ll be reminded that movement can be fun.

It doesn’t always have to be about calories, kilometres, pace or performance. Sometimes it’s simply about moving because it feels good to move.

15, 30 or 60 minutes — what could you do?

The Million Moves movement ideas include activities for different amounts of time. I downloaded these from the resources section of the Million Moves website. Just click on the image and it will take you to the website to download.

15 minutes might be:

• A walk around the block.
• Some gentle stretching.
• A few songs of dancing.
• Gardening.
• Chair yoga.
• Mobility exercises.
• Playing with the grandchildren.

30 minutes might be:

• A brisk walk.
• A yoga or Pilates class.
• Swimming.
• Cycling.
• A strength workout.
• Gardening.
• A walk with friends.

60 minutes might be:

• A long nature walk.
• A hike.
• A run.
• A strength session.
• A swimming session.
• A yoga or Pilates class.
• A game of tennis or another sport.

Of course these are just some ideas because the best movement is movement that works for you.

Let’s stop thinking we need to do it perfectly

I think this is particularly important as we get older. We can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that if we can’t do a “proper” workout, there’s no point.

But what if we changed that thinking?

What if instead of asking:

“Did I exercise today?”

we asked:

“How much did I move today?”

That feels much more achievable and positive.

My Million Moves Challenge

So from 1 September, I’m going to be paying more attention to my movement and sharing some of my Million Moves journey as part of my Spring Reset.

I’ll be walking, running, strength training, stretching and doing all the everyday things that keep me moving. And because I’m moving house, there will probably be plenty of unexpected movement thrown in too!

I’m not setting out to be perfect. I’m simply going to move more, notice more and enjoy the process.

Because movement isn’t just about fitness. It’s about independence.

It’s about confidence in our bodies. It’s about being able to say yes to the things we want to do.

And ultimately, it’s about having a body that allows us to participate in the life we want to live.

Your Turn

What could 15 minutes of movement look like for you?

Whatever it is, start there. You don’t have to do everything. Just keep moving and I’ll be doing the same.

Let’s get moving!

The Million Moves Challenge is powered by AUSactive. I’ll be sharing my personal experience of the challenge as part of my Spring Reset.

Women Living Well After 50

Living Life Your Way