The Game-Changing Habit That Changed My Life

I can't believe I'm 'that' person now.

By
Published February 20, 2026
Naomi Elliott

Confession: I’m addicted to something that’s changed my morning routine — and the way I feel overall. It’s been a 100 percent game-changer with zero downsides. 

As a freelance writer glued to my laptop throughout the day, I once got by with end-of-day jogs and semi-regular yoga classes. But seemingly overnight I found myself all knotted up, stiff and discouraged. It’s like aging snuck up while I was typing away in my chair. 

I knew what to do, and it wasn’t rocket science nor a popular trend. Nope, it was much more basic: I knew I needed more movement in my day. My hour of exercise at the end of day wasn’t enough to reverse the accumulated creaks and pains from years of sedentary work.

So at the start of Lent 2025, instead of refraining from something, I made a promise to add something: daily morning walks. I was stubbornly determined but the notion seemed like a pipedream, because — plot-twist — I don’t like early mornings at all. It seemed like I’d be hard-pressed to fulfill my commitment for 40 days, but guess what? It’s a year later and I’m still walking every morning.

Though it was impossible to imagine, and tough to pull the trigger and start, I’m frankly addicted to this habit. I literally can’t imagine starting the day without a walk. Why? It makes me feel better in every way. Here’s how it happened.

Frustration-Fueled Quest

For years, I’ve felt energy and excitement as I’ve charged into my day as a freelance writer. Every part of me worked together. But mysteriously, as the years passed, things changed though my job didn't — I was still working alone on my laptop from home. Think: Knotted mind-body-soul vibes. I ignored it until I had to face all of these negative forces. 

Fed up, I confronted the fact that jogging after work wasn't working, and neither was pausing to birdwatch during the day or occasionally doing yoga. 

Sure, these things were great and checked some boxes, but they didn’t fundamentally change the all-over-body drag I felt each morning. Writer’s block was the norm, my ideas weren’t coming, and my words were stuck in my head. Everything took longer — so I stayed seated, eyes glued to my screen and my body screamed in protest. 

At my wit’s end, I went for both the obvious and least obvious of solutions: walking in the morning. Walking, free and simple, is one of my favorite things to do. Mornings are not. This crazy solution involved something both easy and seemingly impossible for me. But I couldn’t let the idea go. A voice in my head  kept saying, why not try it? If it doesn’t help you can drop it after Lent. 

My Strategic Plan to Push Myself Out the Door

I knew the idea was toast if I didn’t lay out a plan. I’d be grumbling and come up with so many excuses — “it was a late night and I need more sleep,” “it’s too cold,” or, “I don’t have time — I’ve got too much to get done today!”  

The first sacrifice I made was ditching my habit of having coffee in my robe and curling up on the couch. It was crucial that I lay out my walking clothes the night before, even my tennis shoes with socks poking out, so I’d get dressed the minute I got out of bed. I leave nothing to chance, so that I can hop into my clothes in the dark and not wake my sleeping husband. 

After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I go downstairs for coffee — limiting myself to just one cup. When I leave, I grab a banana and start Strava to track my walk — it creates an encouraging record I can reference later.

A Reoriented Mindset Thanks to Nature and Neighbors — Not Just Movement

When I step outdoors, I start walking fast, following the same 3.5-mile route through the neighborhood so I don’t have to think about where I’m going. I disconnect and silence my phone — no podcasts, music or calls. I let my mind dance and do some free-range thinking. 

The blast of fresh air, exuberant birds and glowing sunrays started working their magic on me from the beginning of this walking experiment. Being in nature really is uplifting — like clearing the whole body of cobwebs.

Along the way, there are cheery encounters with other early risers walking dogs, pushing strollers, waiting with kids for the school bus or getting their steps in. The friendly hellos as I passed through the neighborhood put a happy bounce in my step. 

I felt two things happening simultaneously. My mindset was reoriented by the joy of rubbing shoulders with neighbors who, like me, were out savoring the early moments of the day. Just as surely, my whole body seemed loose and relaxed by the brisk walk.

The net effect is that my early morning walks reset my mind, body and soul, putting me on track for a healthier, more positive day. 

It started as a last-ditch solution, but my morning walks have grown to be a joyful addiction. Rewarding me with unexpected delights, the routine has changed the way I move and face each day. Why would I quit a habit that’s unleashed all the good juju?

Kathryn Streeter is a freelance writer living in Washington, D.C. whose work has appeared in USA Today, The Washington Post, Islands, The Week and elsewhere. Learn more at KathrynStreeter.com.