A year ago, I embarked on a journey, a journey that’s close to my heart and my health, not just to close the rings on my Apple Watch, but to close the gap between who I was and who I wanted to be. It’s about how a little gadget on my wrist transformed me from a couch potato into a runner in just one year. So, let’s dive into my journey of how closing these activity rings daily has given me a newfound love for running!
I’ve been participating in my own Apple Watch challenge. If you saw this video, that I made about being healthier and fitter with the Apple Watch and the importance of just closing the three daily activity rings, the move, exercise and stand rings. Then you’ll know, that during that video I was actively participating in closing those activity rings. As of today’s date, Sunday 28th April 2024, I have closed those activity rings daily for 378 days. So for those 378 days, I’ve committed to closing all three activity rings every single day. No excuses, no breaks and no cheating, because if I’m cheating I’m only going to be cheating myself.
From what started as a personal challenge, has now evolved into me having a better, healthier, happier life, all because I started with closing the activity rings on my Apple Watch. I’m very competitive, and began seeing the closing of the rings as a game, which had an effect of wanting to go and do something everyday and wanting to be active, just so I could close those rings.
On day one, I couldn’t even run down the road without gasping for air. But I was determined. Now fast forward a few months, and something clicked and I decided to start running. Running wasn’t just a box to tick off; it’s become my escape, my meditation, my adventure and my place, where I can push the limits to see what I can do.
The journey hasn’t just been about the physical changes. Sure, I’ve become fitter, stronger, and more energetic. But the real change was mental. Every closed ring was a small victory, a step towards a happier, healthier me. I’ve went from running out of breath to now running five times a week and actually missing the fact, that on my rest days, I’m not running. Sounds crazy.
I’ve learned so much about myself. I’ve pushed past limits I thought were unbreakable, and I’ve found joy in the little things. The rings on my Apple Watch have become more than just goals; they became reflections of my dedication. And I get a daily reminder of that dedication.
Many critics will say that the algorithm of how the watch works out its metrics is inaccurate, but when applied correctly and as a source inspiration for a better you, then there is no better tool.
Smartwatches have saved people’s lives and I don’t know whether I’d have been in this much better mindset if it wasn’t for everything that I said in that first video. If a healthier me, means that I’m going to live longer, be able to kick a football around with my future children without getting out of breath and be a more positive, happier person for the people around me, then there is no critic in the world that is going to be able to tell me that these aren’t good for you.
Yes, staying motivated throughout the year to the close the activity rings has been challenging at times, but by adopting some strategies like, setting clear goals, varying my activities, at the start, I was alternating between running, weights and indoor cycling on zwift, tracking my progress on things like Apple Health and my running through Strava, celebrating milestones, achieving that first 1k run, 4k run, 10k run, things like that. The social support, people noticing that you seem happier, that you’ve lost weight, or personally, getting into clothes that you’ve never worn before or weighing less on the scales. All those things add up to helping to keep you motivated. Remember, it’s normal for motivation to ebb and flow, but persistence and finding personal meaning in the challenge can make all the difference in achieving your life changing long term goals.
Looking at the numbers. Over the year, I’ve lost weight, reduced my resting heart rate and blood pressure and improved my sleep. But you know what the most significant number is? The countless moments of pride and self-love that no graph can show.
It’s natural to consider quitting, particularly at the start, or during the journey if you begin to not see any changes, it’s these moments that can be the most challenging times in any fitness journey. The lack of visible progress can lead to frustration and doubt. However, it’s often at these moments that it’s crucial to remember your reasons for starting and to focus on the long-term benefits rather than immediate results.
Remember your why, revisiting your initial motivation can reignite the passion that got you started in the first place. If you need to, turn to friends, family or a community for encouragement, that can provide you with a much needed boost. Ultimately, your decision to push through a plateau can lead to a greater self-discovery and personal growth, reinforcing your commitment to a healthier lifestyle and a better you.
This year long experiment has been about more than just closing the activity rings on my Apple Watch; it’s been about opening doors to a new lifestyle, about setting goals, pushing my limits, and finding joy in the journey. I’m healthier, yes, but more importantly, I’m in a much happier place with how I feel about myself. And I owe it all to this little gadget on my wrist.
Now most excitedly, I’m just one week away from running my first ever half marathon! Can you believe it? Me a year ago wouldn’t have.
While this has been focused on fitness, you could adopt and alter this to almost anything in your life, personally I’ve found that this has also helped me creatively and certain videos on the channel over the last year have reflected that.
So, what’s your goal and challenge going to be, over the next week, month, year and beyond? Whatever it is, just start today, you don’t have to have an Apple Watch, you may have your own source of inspiration. And maybe, a year from now, you’ll be sharing your own story.
If you want to see the video version of this article, check out the link below: