When you walk, you step, putting one foot in front of the other. Most Americans take between 5,000 and 7,000 steps a day. If you want to step your way to better health, though, you should try and go above that average. Try increasing your count to a goal of 10,000 or more steps daily.
As a culture, we sit… a lot. Yet our bodies should be moving more– we need to get our blood circulating better and we need to get our heart rate up now and then. It’s good to walk. Taking more and more steps helps a person’s overall health.
What are some easy ways to step more?
Do you have a dog or know someone who does? Walking a dog is a great way to get more steps in on a daily basis– dogs love to be walked and they’ll keep you moving!
When you visit a store or mall, don’t park so close. Instead, park “far out” in the parking lot so you’ll have a longer walk just to get in the building and back to your vehicle. Also, in buildings, take the stairs rather than escalators or elevators.
If you spend a lot of time sitting all day for work, take several quick breaks where you get up from your desk and walk around. Or even better– buy and use a “treadmill desk.” Yes, they really do exist!
After meals, take walks. If you have to get somewhere, take the long way rather than shortcuts. If you ride on a bus or train, get off a stop or two early in order to have a longer walk to the car or home.
Play with your kids or other people’s kids– they’ll get you moving more than you’d do so on your own. Instead of going out to dinner with friends, where you’ll sit and eat, go for “walking dates” where you get together to walk around a pond, on a municipal path, or at the beach.
Finally, buy and use a device that tells you how many steps you’re getting everyday. That way you can accurately measure your progress. The more steps you take, the healthier you’ll be!
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