There has been so much focus in recent times on the 10,000 steps a day to achieve health that you’ve probably read the same suggestions about taking the stairs, getting off the bus one stop early or parking away at the far end of the car park a million times by now. The chances are that if you are reading this article, you have already incorporated these simple and highly effective suggestions and are looking for something more.
Let’s start with the obvious -go for a 2,000 step walk! I know it sounds crazy but if you really want to walk an extra 2,000 steps a day it is by far the easiest way to do it. So next time you are driving home check which landmark you drive past 1/2 mile from your home and each day walk to that landmark and back. There are your 2,000 steps. You will probably be amazed at how little time it takes and it is actually such a short distance that you will probably not even need to change out of your work clothes to do it.
Another way to do it is to work your step count in averages per week. Save your 2,000 steps per day for the weekend and take a hike up a nice mountain or walk 7 miles around your favorite mall – whatever your preference is. Just remember, you still need to do the walking you would usually have done on that day!
Make walking your social activity. Meet friends for a walk rather than a drink. Or meet for a drink at a distant bar and walk there together!
Be altruistic and enter every “walk for charity” that you can find. It’s not the cheapest option but it is a great day out and as many of these walks are 6 miles, if you do one every weekend your steps are nearly taken care of.
Trade your steps in for regular exercise. The 10,000 steps per day were calculated to get sedentary people moving and provide a simple and easy to understand method of improving health. If you were getting regular exercise (recommended is about 30 – 60 minutes of steady exercise, 3 to 4 times per week) you wouldn’t have to count your steps or try to increase them. Regular walking is in itself great but there are a multitude of choices of exercise that you could take up, many of which burn even more calories than walking. Depending on what you like doing, look into swimming, martial arts, dance classes, the local gym… the list goes on forever.
Not only will you learn new skills and feel great but you won’t have the worry of 10,000 steps hanging over you every day!