3 Easy Ways to Reach 10,000 Steps a Day
You are committed to walking 10,000 Steps a Day. You told all your friends. You bought new shoes. You are only hitting 8,000 steps. Wait, what? How do you reach your goal? Well here are some 4 areas to look at:
Getting to/from work
Getting to and from work is the easiest way to add steps, as you travel to work 5 days a week. If you live close to work, consider walking or cycling to work. 10 minutes of brisk walking equals 1300 steps. The same 10 minutes of leisurely bicycling equals approximately 1100 steps. So if you walked 20 minutes to work every day, you would add 5200 steps!
If walking to work is not feasible, and you drive to work, how about parking farther away? How often do you see people circling the parking area looking for the closest spots, even passing empty spots that are farther away? Grab one of the spots and walk towards your goals.
Taking the train or a taxi? Get off one station early going in to work, and walk to the next farther station on your way home. Have your taxi drop you off a block or two from your office/home and walk the rest of the way. You will be surprised how many extra steps these small actions can have.
At the Office
We spend so many hours of the day at our place of work, we should be adding to our daily goal while there. There are many ways to add steps to your daily work routine.
For instance, while you are on the phone or presenting during a meeting, stand up and pace back and forth. This not only helps you reach your step goal, but doing so during a presentation helps you engage more with your audience, and keeps the energy of your presentation up. Consider having a walking meeting. It is energizing to walk while you talk. You could walk around the company grounds or in a nearby park.
Another easy way to add steps to you day is skip the escalators and elevators and take the stairs. You can briskly walk up 3 or 4 flights of stairs faster than taking the elevator.
Don’t forget lunch. This is an easy way to add steps by walking to buy food, walking while you are eating, or walking the long way to the cafeteria.
And one of the easiest ways to stay healthy, add steps and stem Office Syndrome (see my upcoming article), is to drink lots of water. Drinking water helps flush your system of toxins and keeps your body functions running at peak efficiency. What happens when we drink a lot of water? We need to get up to use the toilet, and that adds steps. So drink a glass of water every hour, and get up to use the toilet every hour and you will add 1000’s of steps!
Outside of the Office
Most of us after work just want to relax and enjoy our time off. Here are some great ways to add steps while you are enjoying your time away from work.
Enjoy activities such as golf, cycling, aerobics, or running. Just 9 holes of golf adds 8000 steps. Adding 30 minutes of step aerobics or running to your routine will add 7500 steps. Have a dog? Taking your dog for a walk is another great way to relax and enjoy your time off from work and adding more steps.
Do you have a favorite show or movie to watch on the television? This is a great time to add steps! Get a stationary bike and pedal while watching. Just 30 minutes, one show, will add 7500 steps.
Don’t for get to wear your pedometer at all times to keep track of your results. Many models for sale are water proof so you can wear them while you exercise, but you can also be adding steps in the shower!
For more great tips on movement programs, diet and nutrition advice, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, go to www.fitcorpglobal.com or contact us.
