Why I’m Committing to Daily Exercise for the month of Jan
Daily exercise isn’t new for me. I’ve always been pretty active - my parents were athletes, and movement was modelled for me from a young age. These days, swimming is my anchor. Over the summer, I trained with a great group of swim friends, and since arriving in Italy in September, I’ve been consistently swimming with a competitive Masters team in Albaro.
I like to work out early in the morning, before the day has a chance to fill up. I usually wake up about an hour before practice, enjoy some quiet time and coffee, and then head out. When I get my workout in, I feel energized, grounded, and more myself. When I miss it, I notice the difference - not dramatically, but subtly, like something essential is just slightly off.
The Science Behind It
One book that strongly reinforces this habit is Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Dr. Henry Lodge. Its core message is refreshingly simple: move your body for 45 - 60 minutes a day, for the rest of your life.
Their argument is that consistent exercise is the single most powerful signal we can send our bodies to stay in “growth mode”- repairing, strengthening, and renewing - rather than slowly slipping into decline through inactivity. The tone of the book is friendly and even funny, but the science underneath is solid. The takeaway is clear: daily movement isn’t indulgent or optional - it’s a long-term investment in vitality.
My “Why”
This habit is one I’m already living. I’ve been swimming five days a week for over six months, and before that I had been surfing daily for about 90 mins, so the real commitment here is moving from “mostly consistent” to intentional and complete.
I’ve also been meaning to add strength training to my routine for years. This challenge feels like the right moment to stop postponing it.
So the plan is simple:
Swim five days a week (Mon, Wed, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Strength train two days a week (Tuesday and Sunday)
Connection to My Values and Life Vision
Daily exercise connects directly to a few values that matter deeply to me:
Consistency over effort (especially at first). I've always joked that if you can swim 10 workouts in a row, you'll fall in love with swimming!
Taking responsibility for my long-term health
Choosing practices that support future freedom
At this stage of my life, my vision isn’t necessarily about peak performance - it’s about sustainability, staying injury free, connecting with teammates, and feeling healthy. I want to build habits that allow me to keep doing the things I love for as long as possible, (surfing, swim meets, hiking) with strength and joy.
What I Hope to Learn This Month
What I’m really curious about isn’t whether I can do this - I know I can. What I want to explore is how it feels to treat movement not as something I squeeze in, but as a non-negotiable part of who I am.
I’m paying attention to questions like:
How does daily movement affect my energy and mood?
What shifts when I stop negotiating with myself?
What does commitment feel like when it’s grounded, not forced?
If this habit deepens my sense of steadiness and self-trust, it will be worth it. And if it simply reinforces the truth that my body thrives on daily care - that’s a lesson I’m happy to keep learning.
Invitation:
Please join us over in the Surefooted Community and share how this habit lands for you.
How do you like to move? Alone or with others? Early mornings, lunchtime, or evenings?
There’s no right answer - just curiosity.