Last week I set myself the challenge of trying out a couple of the Move More tips as well as continuing to try to keep up my 2015 Resolution: Do more! I managed to get to the CCCU Sports Centre gym first thing on Monday morning, a feat in itself sometimes to motivate myself to go into work early after a weekend of not so early rising, and did a short workout. I try to run from campus there and back, and do a couple of 15-20 minute bursts of cardio & see if I feel like any of the fixed weight machines – not my favourite thing to do as I’ve never really been into weight training. I’m trying the tactic of ‘little and often’ so instead of a ‘big session’ which usually puts me off going again for a while, I’m trying not to scare myself off altogether by just doing a little bit at a time, plus it fits into my day much more easily.

After a practical workshop with students (where I tried to stand and walk around the groups as much as I could), I had a meeting at the Priory. Time was pretty tight so I marched my way up the little hill to get there. Brought back memories of hills sprints in my hockey playing days!

Tuesday I got in early again to play some tennis with a colleague before he’s off on a work trip for a few days. Another loss but another 4.82 km moved using 6,059 steps according to my Jawbone UP band, which tracks my steps and sleep patterns. Tomorrow afternoon I’m going to try to stand in my meeting (one of the Move More tips). This could be interesting!

Wednesday: So I made it through my 2 and a bit hour meeting standing up. Well, standing, jiggling about, switching from one foot to another and leaning on a chair at various points, but I persevered and didn’t sit down! I’d mentioned to a few staff before the meeting started that I was going to try to stand up so didn’t get too many funny looks! In the evening I went to watch my old football team in a cup final and decided to stand the whole game instead of sitting in the stands. By the end of the day, my feet were a little tired but somehow the sense of achievement outweighed the ache!

Thursday has become “Watt Bike day”, and although it’s always a really tough slog to get through the 45 minute session, it really helps that other colleagues are working out at the same time. The camaraderie really helps me to keep motivated.

And so to Friday, and the last day of term. I took the train in instead of driving so notched up a few more steps. A quick pop into town in my lunch break added a few more, and then walking around behind the desk whilst lecturing in a big lecture theatre in the afternoon topped up my quota, before the return walk to the station.

So, how did I get on with the Move More tips this week? Well, making a conscious effort to stand instead of sitting whenever I could wasn’t too bad, and something I’ll try to keep up over the next few weeks to try to make it more routine. Hopefully some of my colleagues might join in so I’m not alone! So far I haven’t managed to do much of a desk workout, except for a few squeezes of my stress ball whilst I was concentrating on something on Thursday morning. Will try to include this over the next few weeks if I can, although I am going to be less in my office with some annual leave booked in over this period. Should do quite a bit of walking whilst I’m on leave as I’m visiting some countries I haven’t been to before. All in all, I’m happy that I’m still ‘doing more’ in 2015!

Caroline Digby-Bowl
Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Biomechanics
Section of Sport & Exercise Sciences
School of Human & Life Sciences
Canterbury Christ Church University