Not in one go—but before the year ends. I set this goal on March 6, 2025, giving me exactly 300 days to complete it. That averages out to ~8.5 pull-ups per day or 10 pull-ups on 250 days. As of today (May 4, 2025) I have already completed 668 pull-ups.
(In case you're wondering, I use a monthly tracker on my wall—part of my broader goal to cut back on smartphone usage)
A couple of years ago, I figured out that meeting my fitness goals requires me to focus on other things - sleep, Non-Exercise Physical Activity (NEPA), hydration, and nutrition - aside from my workout. Each year, I try to make small but lasting improvements across the five key factors that affect my fitness.
I have been slowly increasing my daily NEPA to ensure that I lead a non-sedentary life. My first battle was with how I work. For years I had been sitting for long hours. Over the last couple of years, I have incorporated a variety of working positions. Today, a typical workday includes sitting cross-legged on the floor, standing, and sitting on a chair while working. This year, I am adding pull-ups and stretches to the mix. These aren't meant to work up a sweat—just ways to move my body in more diverse ways through the day.
Years of not meeting my fitness goals has taught me another important lesson - it starts with setting the right goals. I’ve come a long way in how I set my goals. With 300 days to go, I could have easily picked 3000 pull-ups as my goal, but I held back. With kids, parents, family, friends, travel, changing weather, and more—who knows what life has in store for me. There is a good chance that I might miss a few days, and that's okay. Maybe I’ve let down the Gods of Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs), but come January 1, 2026, I’ll have done 2,500 more pull-ups than the Suraj of January 1, 2025.
And that, to me, is progress worth chasing.