Kia ora, Sharon Adams here from Active Workplaces. All parents know that feeling of pride when your child takes his/her first step and begins to adventure into life! This year’s Active Workplaces STeptember Challenge has me feeling a similar sense of pride in the individuals and teams that have got stuck into upping their steps over the month. During the challenge, I have gained further understanding of what staff in various kinds of workplaces have been up to. Staff set individual goals throughout each week, came together in teams of four to support each other, making changes along the way and posting fun pictures. I thought I would share with you, a couple of the many stories that have been inspirational to me.

“I joined the Steptember challenge because I was struggling with motivation to exercise and wanted to improve my fitness, I’m very blessed to have landed with a team who are so motivated and supportive (and just a little bit competitive 😉).  I am time-poor so try to fit in steps where I can, little things like choosing a rubbish bin that’s further away or taking the longer route to get somewhere make a difference, it all adds up! I try to accrue steps in smaller chunks throughout the day. I work from home, so I jump on my treadmill in my breaks and use it as a ‘walking desk’ when practical. After work, I’m tending my horses (mucking out and feeding are great for the step count!), riding or going for a walk on the farm. I try to round my steps up at the end of the night, will jump back on the treadmill or walk around the house once my daughter is in bed to use up what energy I’ve got left. I’ve gone from an average of 3,000 steps in a working day to exceeding 20,000 and given the sedentary nature of my work, I’ve surprised myself by what I can achieve. If I’m having a rough day or get off to a slow start, I remind myself that what I contribute to the team matters and that it’s not just me I’m doing this for. I don’t want to let the team down and it’s easier to spread them throughout the week than to try and make it up on the weekend. Our team captain has been an inspiration to us all. In a week where two of us were sick he walked extra laps of the loop to make up for our deficit, his efforts lit a fire in us and this week’s result is a tribute to the leadership and commitment to the challenge.”

• Carroll Irvine, Fast and Furious team.

“The Library Striders are stepping up into fitness around campus. Positive peer pressure has developed with staff throughout the campus. As I drive into work, I see a staff member walking around campus, and seeing this inspires me to quickly get out and do a ten- or fifteen-minute walk before work too! The fresh and crisp air feels revitalising, wakes me up and gives me more energy to start my day. Who knew exercise could be so good for you! I shall definitely keep this new habit going, even after Steptember.”

• Raewyn, Team Captain.

If you would like any further information on the Active Workplaces programme, upcoming events, challenges and support, email sharona@sportnorth.co.nz or check out our Active Workplaces Facebook page.