Now we’re all walking in the right direction

SO it would seem 100 days of walking has grown legs if you’ll excuse the pun! Yes, my very simple new year’s plan to walk for at least 30 minutes every day, come rain, hail or shine, for 100 days appears to have really caught on and we have formed a merry band of walkers throughout the land.

If you’re not up to speed with it — this was something I floated here in the Sunday Independent and on social media at the end of December — where I was going to start walking on January 1 and run with it right up until I’d arrived at the hundredth day on April 10 — and I asked people if they wanted to join me — and they said yes! Today is day 13 and a Sunday which for me means a proper long walk rather than the 30 minutes minimum — because you can do that too!

And I am agog with the amount of people getting involved for one thing and their incredible photographic skills for another; I’m being sent glorious scenic shots from round the country and beyond — from New Zealand and Australia to Canada, the US and Japan.

But in terms of motivation — these are the hardest days around this stage. The first flush of enthusiasm that got us through week one is over. And the habit formation that occurs after about three weeks of doing anything hasn’t happened yet. So now is the danger zone in terms of keeping it going. So what can you do to prevent yourself falling off the walking wagon?

Well for one thing, tell people you’re doing it. Committing to doing it to your friends or family makes it a little bit harder to wriggle out of it — so you’re more likely to get up off the couch even on days when you don’t feel like it.

Another good thing is to form a group. I put it out there as an idea on a Facebook page in my area and suggested that anyone who was up for it might gather at 8 and 8 (8am and 8pm) at a certain point and walk together so now of a morning or evening there can be 30 — not including doggies — of us heading out for a walk, which certainly makes it easier if walking on your own is putting you off.

But it’s also really important to try to remember that you actually want to do this. No matter how unmotivated you feel before you go out to walk, you feel terrific when you come back. And the very act of doing something that you didn’t really feel like doing — because you know it’s good for you — is empowering! It makes you feel like you’re in control. It makes you feel like you’re able to achieve goals, set your mind to something and effect change.

What I also like a lot about this little walking plan is it’s not punitive. It’s not about giving anything up or losing weight or not being good enough in some way. It’s about adding one simple thing into your day that will make you feel better, physically, mentally and emotionally.

I’ve listed the massive benefits of walking every week: improved sleep, mood, concentration and energy levels. Better posture, mobility, bone strength, muscle tone and power, improved respiratory, cardiovascular and mental health. The obvious stuff about maintaining a healthy BMI or shifting a few pounds easily. But also all the benefits of fresh air and it being free and not something you need to pay a subscription to do. It is literally all good.

And it is not too late — so if you haven’t started yet, what harm? I might be finished my hundredth day of walking on April 10 because I started on January 1 but if you start today all that would mean is you will finish on April 23 and still feel fantastic about the great start you’ve made in 2019.

So stick on the runners or the walking shoes and just head out the door. The first step is always the hardest but it literally gets easier every step you take. Post your photos online using #100daysofwalking and join the community around the country and the world.

It is genuinely one of the best and most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. @ciarakellydoc Ciara presents ‘Lunchtime Live’ on Newstalk weekdays 12-2

‘Just put on your runners and head outside’