4 Simple Ways To Get More Steps In Your Day

Staying fit and healthy should be every woman’s top priority.

After all, you only get one body in this life, and so it really does make a whole load of sense to look after it. Of course, one of the easiest ways in which we can lead an active lifestyle is by walking more on a day to day basis.

While we all know that we probably should be walking more, this is something that few of us actually bother with when it comes down to it. Sure, you may think about it now and then but how many steps should you walk in a day anyhow? Few people know. And maybe, just maybe that’s where the problem lies. Let’s take a quick look at the facts.

So, how many steps should you walk in a day? Contrary to popular belief, 10,000 steps may not be the ideal amount of exercise. This myth has been reported time and time again, but perhaps we should be walking even more than that.

A new study published in the US National Library of Medicine suggests that the optimum amount is 15,000 steps.

There’s just one teeny tiny problem — we’re all busy women.

Few of us have the time to dedicate to walking that much each and every day. In between working, socializing, and having a little down time, there’s hardly a spare minute for anything else. Sadly, that’s often the very reason that exercise gets sidelines. So, what if there were another way?

Maybe there is. Fitting your steps into your daily life could be the answer you’ve been looking for all along. Rather than making extra time for this chore at the end of the day, you could make a few small changes that will incorporate it in what you already do.

Here are just a few ideas to help you along the way.

1.  Get a step-tracking app

You may not even know how many steps you walk per day as it is. That’s why it really does make a lot of sense to get a step-tracking app. Since tech and fitness go hand-in-hand these days, there are a whole bunch of apps that you can download in mere seconds. For example, a couple of the best include the ultra minimal looking Noom Walk Pedometer and the Let’s Walk App.

Once you’ve downloaded an app that suits you, you can start tracking how much you walk and see where you need to improve things just a little. The first step (excuse the pun!) here is to understand how active your current lifestyle is. That way, you can start to adapt the things that you do in a way that not only makes you healthier, but also that suits your existing lifestyle as well.

2.  Always take the stairs

Make no mistakes, elevators are convenient. There’s a reason that we all use these more often than not. Taking the stairs seems like so much effort, especially if you’re going to the seventh floor. Still, perhaps you should do it now and then. Walking upstairs is a great way to lose weight since you have to put in some extra effort to deal with the incline.

But wait just a minute, how many calories does walking burn? Well, walking moderately for just ten minutes can help you burn 40 calories. However, if you walk upstairs instead, you will find that this increases how many calories you burn since you’re having to use extra energy and strength. That is to say that taking the stairs is perhaps the best thing you can do for your own health levels.

3.  Leave your car at home

It’s all too easy, right? You get up, you get dressed and eat breakfast, and then you get into your car and drive to work. The whole thing takes you around an hour, so why would you want to add extra time to that system? If you want to give your health a real boost, walking to work could be the change that you need. It will make you feel healthier, happier, and more energized than ever before.

But, can you lose weight walking to work? The answer is simple — yes. According to a recent study from the University of East Anglia, walking or cycling to work could help you to lose around 7KG over a three year period. That means that this small change could affect more than just your health, it could have a real impact on your weight too.

4.  Join a walking group

Why should you have to choose between exercising and socializing with people? In truth, there are a whole load of ways in which you can meet new people while also making sure that you’re as healthy and active as you can possibly be. Let’s start small here. Why not join a walking group near you?

Don’t panic if you can’t find a walking group in your area! You could always just set one up for yourself. If you register on the meetup app, you will find that you can create an open group which people in your area can join for free. Once you have regular meetings going, it should be easier than ever to make walking more a habit.

Remember, walking is something that you should learn to love and enjoy on a day to day basis. It doesn’t have to be a chore or something that you dread doing. Instead, you need to relish it and have as much fun as possible while doing it. So, go on, get stepping!