One thing I’ve learned after two weeks of walking 20,000 steps a day is that this challenge has been far more enjoyable than I expected.

At the end of Week 1, I honestly thought I’d be ready for a break. Instead, something unexpected happened: my body started adjusting. My legs aren’t nearly as sore, getting my steps feels more natural, and I’m actually looking forward to my daily walks.

I’m still spending around three hours a day walking, but it no longer feels impossible. The biggest challenge isn’t the walking itself, it’s simply finding the time.

Week 2 Snapshot

•  Days completed: 14 (and counting!)
•  Daily goal: 20,000 steps
•  Approximate distance: 9-10 miles per day
•  Average walking time: 3 hours
•  Best Motivation: Good shows to watch!
•  Hardest part: Finding the time – not the walking itself.
•  Read my Week 1 Update. See Week 3 and Week 4

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Walking 20,000 Steps a Day Challenge – Daily Thoughts

Day 8: As a little reward for sticking with the challenge, my husband and I took our electric scooters along the Mississippi River at dusk.

It was peaceful, relaxing, and honestly one of my favorite evenings of the week…

…until the sun went down and the bugs absolutely pelted us the entire ride home.

Worth it? Mostly. 😂

Day 9: I didn’t get as much walking finished earlier in the day as I usually do, and it reminded me how quickly the hours disappear.

It was also incredibly hot and humid outside, so I stayed indoors with my walking pad while watching another episode of a show.

At this point, I can confidently say that having something I genuinely want to watch has been the biggest reason I’ve stayed consistent. Instead of dreading three hours of walking, I actually look forward to seeing what happens next.

If you download my free 30-Day Walking Challenge Tracker, there’s a section to keep a running list of movies, podcasts, audiobooks, TV shows, and playlists to help keep you motivated.

Day 10: It’s amazing how quickly a “free” day fills up.

Everyone else in my family had plans, so I thought I’d have all kinds of extra time. Instead, I spent the day working, cleaning, and making sourdough bread.

Oddly enough, baking bread fits perfectly with this challenge.

Mix the dough.

Go walk.

Stretch and fold.

Go walk again.

Repeat.

Apparently my life now revolves around bread and walking. 😊

Day 11: I finished the latest season of From, and I’m convinced that having a preloaded watch list is one of the biggest reasons I’ve been successful so far.

Looking forward to the next episode gives me a reason to get back on the walking pad. Once the show starts, my mind relaxes into the story instead of obsessing over how many steps I have left.

Something else surprised me this week…

A few days, after I finally hit 20,000 steps, I actually wanted to keep walking just to finish another episode!

I’m trying not to do that too often, though. I’d rather stop around my goal and still feel motivated to come back the next day than burn myself out.

Day 12: I picked up a few new books from the library this week, and it was nice to switch things up.

Reading while walking has been a refreshing change from watching my iPad every day.

It’s still far too hot to walk outside comfortably, so I’m especially thankful for my walking pad.

I’ve also decided that if I finish my 20,000 steps but still want to keep reading, I’m not going to stop myself. I love audiobooks, but I’d forgotten how much I enjoy getting lost in a real book for a couple of hours.

Day 13: This was the day I really realized just how much time this challenge requires.

I’m incredibly grateful that I work from home and have a flexible schedule because I’m not sure I could pull this off otherwise.

The trade-off is that every day feels like a choice.

Do I spend another hour working…

…or do I spend another hour walking?

Lately I’ve been doing the bare minimum for work so I can stay on track with this challenge, and I know that’s probably not sustainable long-term.

It’ll be interesting to see how I balance everything as the month goes on.

Day 14: One thing that continues to work really well is breaking the challenge into smaller pieces.

Instead of thinking about walking 20,000 steps a day, I think:

• Walk one mile.
• Wash some laundry.
• Walk another mile.
• Do some work.
• Walk some more.
• Break to run kids to activities.
• Find time to make food.
• Keep walking.

Little by little, the steps add up.

I’ve also noticed that once I hit about 15,000 steps, the last 5,000 somehow feel much easier than the first 15,000.

My Biggest Takeaway This Week

If Week 1 taught me that 20,000 steps a day is possible, Week 2 taught me that consistency comes from making the process enjoyable.

For me, that means good books, binge-worthy TV shows, sourdough baking between walks, and giving myself permission to fit the challenge into my life instead of expecting my life to revolve around the challenge.

I’m excited to see what Week 3 has in store.

Week 2 Stats

Current streak: 14 days

Daily average steps: 20,781

Highest day: Thursday 21,630 steps

Lowest day: Monday 20,218 steps

Average miles: 9.57 per day

Current favorite drink:  Kiwi Watermelon Dunkin’ Zero Sugar Refresher

Thinking about walking 20,000 steps a day? Download my free 30-Day Walking Challenge Tracker to stay motivated and follow along as I continue sharing weekly updates.  Click below to save this post and share it with your fitness friends.