When you’re chasing a fitness goal, what matters in the long run is not whether you worked out today, but what kind of consistency you’re building over time. The app 1 Second Everyday can help you visualize that.
1 Second Everyday is a video diary app that’s better known for helping you watch your babies grow up. You just select a video for each day, trim it to a one-second clip, and the app gives you monthly and yearly videos that stitch your seconds together.
I didn’t think of using it for fitness until I saw writer and runner Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan use the app to document a month of running every day. I thought about doing a one-month challenge of my own, but then I realized: I could just use the app to document the workouts I already do.
So each day I select a clip. Usually it’s the lift I’m proudest of that day, but sometimes I’ll include an accessory lift just to show that life isn’t all snatches. Some days I go for a run or swing a kettlebell; I try to grab a quick clip if I do, or I’ll insert a still photo (like a screenshot of stats from my run, if I used a watch or phone to track it).
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And the rest days? I absolutely include the rest days. They’re important, because they’re part of the rhythm of my routine. I’ll include a photo or clip of something else I did that day, like meal prep or crafting or just lounging around. Sometimes I’ll go for a walk and get a quick video of my footsteps on the grass or snow. (Another approach would be to create a card that just says “rest day.”)
What emerges is a full picture of my life as an athlete. If I hit a PR, I’ll definitely include it, but most days are just putting in the work. Each month’s video then becomes a tribute to the daily grind. Give it a try, and show yourself how hard you’re working.
