On Monday, I picked up a Fitbit Inspire 3 from a guy who was selling it second-hand online on Kleinanzeigen. The watch was brand new and he even included the original receipt. I paid just 25€, which is a steal compared to the usual 60€+. He’d received it as a birthday gift but already had a smartwatch, so it ended up being a not-so-great present for him, but a fantastic deal for me. This purchase is my small promise to myself to take better care of my health or at the very least, be able to measure it more accurately. I work a full-time job from home, 100% remote, and as anyone in that boat can relate, it’s far too easy to slip into couch potato mode. That was definitely me for most of the winter.

I wouldn’t say that I’m living unhealthily. After all, I do take short walks, choose walking over driving for grocery trips several times a week, and regularly work in my 600m² garden but I’ve learned that “feeling tired” isn’t exactly a reliable measure of activity ;) Now, with this little gadget, I can track real stats, see day-to-day changes, and even share my progress here on Hive via Hive account@actifit. It’s already starting to feel like a game changer.

I’m turning 40 next year, which also adds a layer of motivation. I don’t plan on turning into a gym bro or running every evening, but I want to walk more, monitor my heart rate, and take simple steps toward a healthier life. Let’s face it: 40 could very well be my halfway point, so why not take care of the engine a bit better?

Yesterday, I gave the Fitbit a test run while working in the garden. I didn’t exactly clock over 12,000 real steps, but my dominant hand logged 12,000 significant movements. Since the watch doesn’t count every motion as a step and is much more accurate than phone sensors, I take the data at face value for overall activity. It feels good to see numbers that reflect effort.


In terms of actual work, I tackled one of the two drainage ditches next to my garden. As the renter, it's my job to maintain them, which means clearing out grass and overgrowth and, later in summer, some serious digging. Just before the recent Graz event, I took care of the larger ditch (a brutal task, as always). This time, the smaller one was up.

This ditch runs along the border between my garden and my neighbor’s, so its maintenance is shared. My neighbor (82 years old) had already removed the bigger plants, leaving me to handle the weed trimming on my side. Thankfully, I have a fuel-powered trimmer that’s a beast of a machine. With proper eye and ear protection (it’s loud), the trimming part went quickly. The real job started afterward: collecting the cut grass and putting everything into bags.

There’s a designated green waste disposal area in the community garden, open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon (real retirement times...), but that’s how it goes. I already have six bags filled with leaves, stems, and weeds waiting for drop-off, so this weekend’s morning chore list is looking good lol

After finishing the trimming and cleanup, I took advantage of the late afternoon sun to do some more delicate work on two of the garden beds. In the past, I used the trimmer here too, but that left everything looking like a wasteland and really rough. Lately, I’ve shifted to a more subtle approach, using scissor-like hand tools for precision. Not only does it prevent accidental plant cutting, but the work itself is more meditative. I actually enjoy it: it’s quiet, slow, hands-on, and deeply satisfying. To add up to the meditative effects I usually put on some slow atmospheric or classical music. Also this year I focus more on perennials to give the garden more form and colors. Of course they will need 1-2 years to get bigger and have a real impact but it feels good to take care for the beauty and not only for food and the chores of a garden.


There’s one round bed that I keep intentionally half-wild. I like a touch of natural chaos here and there. To be honest, I’m not entirely thrilled with how the previous owner designed the space. There are plastic fixtures I’d love to rip out one day, but that kind of makeover requires time and money. There are also a lot of straight lines I want to remove to establish a more fluent and natural look. For now, I try not to make big plans with my garden because it is my one sanctuary where I can do - or not do - whatever I want. (Well, within the limits of the Kleingartengesetz, the infamous German gardening law.)

And here’s a little side note: What fills me with joy is capturing the before and after shots of this work. Seeing the transformation, no matter how small, brings a quiet sense of accomplishment. There’s something deeply rewarding in completing a task and being able to see the difference you made. It’s those moments that keeps me going - one trimmed ditch and cleared bed at a time.

Last year I already wrote something about my automatic watering solution. This year I added a dispatcher to the system so I can regulate up to 4 different watering zones. Last year I had issues with over-watering plants because my tomatoes needed so much water. Now I can regulate them from the rest of the plants. This automatic valve and the total of around 200m small and wide hoses reduces my gardening work by around 1h per day so 7h per week. It is a game changer that only costs like 120€ all together and it is running the 3rd year now without any major issues. So moooore time to chill (cringe photo lol)

This week, I’m planning to pick up a few more veggie plants for the garden. Last year, I gave growing from seed a solid try—but between the effort and the high failure rate, I’ve decided to go the easier route this season: young plants straight from the gardening store. Less frustration, more results. Right now, I’ve already got a nice little collection going: zucchini, beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, and a few big buckets full of potatoes. It's not a bad start! I’ll add a few more to the mix soon, and once everything’s planted and starts to really grow, I’m planning to do a proper garden “showdown”—a full photo set of what’s growing, what’s thriving, and how the space is coming together this season.

It’s always a pure joy to witness that moment when plants hit their growth rush, usually just a couple of weeks away now, once the sun gets stronger and temperatures rise. There’s something almost magical about checking in one day and suddenly everything looks twice as big. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of the season, and I can’t wait to share the progress!



This report was published via Actifit app (Android | iOS). Check out the original version here on actifit.io