To see whether the 10-minute method could help me to increase the amount of time I spent outdoors moving my body, I set myself a challenge to get outside for 10 minutes more than I usually would every day for a week. That meant walking to the Tube or popping to the shops didn’t count – it had to be 10 extra minutes that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

Day 1

Mondays are a working-from-home day for me, and while I play netball in the evenings, the rest of the day is usually spent at my desk or mooching around the house. That means by the time I get outside it’s normally dark – not ideal for my circadian rhythm or sanity.

Today, however, I committed to getting outside at lunchtime, joining my flatmate on a walk around the block so she could drop off a parcel at the post office. It’s cold, and the chill that greets us as we step out the front door is far from welcome. But after five minutes, I’ve warmed up, and the rest of the walk goes by quickly.

The journey ends up being about 15 minutes there and back, so I clock up a respectable 30 minutes of extra time outside before netball in the evening. A good start.

Day 2

Today is an office day. When I’m out and about I usually manage to clock up 10,000 steps walking to and from the Tube, so I don’t tend to worry about how long I’m spending outside or moving my body – especially when I‘m feeling sore after a netball session.

It’s 10-minute method week though, so come lunchtime I decide to head outside for a little walk around the block. It’s freezing outside and starting to rain, so I really have to push myself to keep going until my watch ticks past the 10-minute mark. From there I make a beeline back to the warmth of the office, stopping my watch at just under 15 minutes. It’s not much, but it’s more than I would usually do when the weather is so terrible.

Day 3

Another WFH day. During the summer months, I’d usually try to get out for a solid run session on a Wednesday lunchtime, that motivation is much harder to find when it’s cold and grey outside.

I am trying to push myself this week though, so I wrap up warm and get outside for a 10-minute run around the local area.

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