November Walking Challenge: 10 Minutes of Movement and Gratitude

By the time the school day ends, you may have answered dozens of questions, worked through unexpected changes, and spent most of your energy supporting other people. Your own needs can easily slip to the bottom of the list. Our November walking challenge offers a simple way to make a little time for yourself.

This November, our Walk With Gratitude movement challenge offers one simple habit to make time for yourself: an intentional 10-minute walk each day.

A Small Habit You Can Return To

November’s Rise principle is Habits, and a daily walk is a practical place to begin. There’s no new workout to learn or equipment to gather. Choose a time, find a comfortable route, and give yourself permission to step away.

Try connecting your walk to something already in your routine:

• After lunch, before you return to your classroom or office.

• When you arrive home, before you settle into the evening.

• After dinner, with someone whose company you enjoy.

Choose the option that fits your day. If 10 minutes feels difficult to find, begin with a few minutes and build from there. Miss a day? Take your next walk when you can.

Bring Gratitude Along

During your walk, notice one thing you appreciate. It might be fresh air, a conversation with a colleague, or a moment from the school day that made you smile.

You can also take a moment to appreciate what your body allows you to experience: moving through your neighborhood, spending time with someone, or exploring a favorite place. Walk at your own pace, and adapt the movement to your body and mobility needs.

If you’d like a reflection to carry with you, try:

“What is something from today that I want to remember?”

There’s no need to find a big answer. An ordinary moment counts.

Make Room for Movement in Your School Day

As an educator, facilitator, or school leader, you help shape the routines students see. Taking a brief movement break is one way to model that caring for yourself belongs in a busy day, too.

You might invite a colleague to join you, suggest a walking conversation when it fits, or offer a short gratitude walk with students when your schedule and school guidelines allow. Keep participation comfortable and flexible, with an accessible movement option for everyone.

At Rise Girl™ and Rise Guy™, we give students opportunities to practice healthy habits through movement, reflection, and connection. This challenge is an invitation for the adults supporting them to make a little room for those habits as well.

Join the Walk With Gratitude Challenge

Your goal: Take one intentional 10-minute walk each day this November and complete as many days as you can.

Start with your next walk. Choose a time, mark each day you participate, and notice what makes the habit easier to return to.

Give yourself 10 minutes today. What will you notice along the way?