Activity trackers have become the norm among a lot of my friends, adorning wrists up and down the country. The number of models and brands is ever increasing, from Fitbit and Jawbone to Misfit- basic functions include counting steps and calories burned, but an increasing number can track your heart rate, sleep patterns and weight. Some also allow you to log runs, bike rides and other activities.
I've used a Jawbone Up24 and now have a Fitbit Charge HR. I love that it has a screen which you can easily turn on to show steps, heart rate, calories, distance - but it's not constantly visible. It's been interesting looking at the app to see my sleep patterns, and earning badges when I've climbed 50 floors or walked 250 total miles, phew!
Since attaching that little blue activity tracker to my wrist, I have also found myself making a conscious effort to try and reach the recommended 10,000 steps every day. Something that doesn't come easy with a desk job.
Even though I try to exercise around four times a week- running, spinning, gym sessions, yoga - studies have shown that if you spend the rest of your day sitting down this is equally as harmful as doing no exercise at all. Keeping moderately active throughout the day, doing light walking can be a great way to keep healthy, maintain a stable weight and help to destress! I know that when I don't leave my desk all day I feel fidgety, unfocused and am not very productive.
One of my New Year's resolutions is to ensure I take my lunch break, so that I can get outside, get active and help to reach my 10000 step target! I've decided to try and fit in a couple of runs during my lunch hour - I much prefer running in the daylight to the dark, winter evenings and it's a fun way to explore new routes around my office, an area of London I don't know that well yet.
A recent YouGov poll has shown that 36% of women and 30% of men plan to get fitter in the New Year - the whole "New Year, New Me" resolution. However, only 8% actually abide by these goals for the remainder of the year.
Euroffice want to try and help us stick to our goals, which is why they've come up with the motivating "Don't Be Stationary" competition. Keep an eye out on social media for each week's challenge, to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes.
With January feeling a little grey and dreary after the fun and festivities of Christmas, this is a great incentive to help you stick to your New Year resolutions and 2016 goals!
Don't Be Stationary
How to Enter
Week 1 (13/1-10/2)
Post your Healthy Lunch Selfie, Follow Euroffice and RT - win a Cowshed gift set
Week 2 (19/1-16/2)
Post your Fitness in the Office Selfie and Follow and RT - win a Euroffice voucher
Week 3 (25/1-22/2)
Post your Walk to Work Selfie and Follow and RT - win a Spa Break
Good Luck!
Do you have an activity tracker? How do you make sure you stay active during the day and get your 10,000 steps?
Beki x
NB: This is a sponsored post by Euroffice, the online stationery store.
![[GRUFFALO] Exploring the #Gruffalo Party Trail @forestryengland Salcey Forest, celebrating 25 years of the Gruffalo!
Arthur is Gruffalo OBSESSED at the moment, so this was the perfect trail for us to walk together as a family, stopping to complete the activities and enjoying the beautiful autumn colours 🍂
We missed the Gruffalo sculpture halfway round - not sure if there was a signpost - and someone's legs were a bit too small to walk the whole 1-mile route, but we enjoyed the den building area and wooden enchanted houses en route. Good places to stop for a sit down and a snack! 😆
.
.
.
#gruffalotrail #salceyforest #forestryengland #exploremore #explorelocal #bedfordmums #bedfordshiremums #outdooradventures #outdoorbloggers #outdoortoddler #outdoorfamily #lovetheoutdoors #autumnleaves #autumnadventures #mumstagram #motherhoodjourney #mumlife #toddlerlife](https://www.misswheezy.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
What a great challenge! I think the fitness trackers are all good, but it's what you do with the info that counts.
On classroom days I tend to make 10,000 steps, but on my day out of class I am sat at a computer so I don't- plus it's a rest day. I have started going on a walk at lunch time to help- it's a bit alien to me as really we don't have lunch breaks, just a time to do other work, but it has made me more productive in the afternoon I think, and combats the computer headache.
Sounds like a good plan to get away from the computer for a bit - I find staring at a screen all day gives me a headache too sometimes. Fresh air always helps!