Balancing family life and personal wellbeing can often feel like a juggling act, and for one busy mum, it seemed like exercise just couldn’t fit into her day. Every time she thought about going for a walk, the unfolded washing or another household task would claim her attention, leaving her at the bottom of her own priority list.

Working together with her Healthy Lifestyle support person, Wendy from Sport Northland, the two worked together to come up with a simple but clever solution: putting on her sneakers before cooking dinner. This tiny act everyday planted a seed of commitment. As soon as dinner was over, she’d place her knife and fork down, announce to her family, “I’ll be back soon,” and head out the door for her walk.

The change was transformative. By prioritising herself for just 30 minutes each day, she found joy and freedom in her walks. The once daunting task of making time for exercise became a habit she genuinely looked forward to—all thanks to the power of sneakers and a little determination.

Now, walking has become her favourite part of the day, and she feels healthier and happier, proving that sometimes, the smallest steps can lead to the biggest stride.

At Sport Northland we exist to enrich Northlander's lives by inspiring and enabling more movement and one of the ways we do this is through Green Prescription - supporting people on their journey.  If you would like some support with your activity goals, give us a call on phone 0800 ACTIVE, we are here to help.

Article written by Wendy Graydon, Healthy Lifestyle Support & Strength and Balance Coordinator