Buzz
If you're using a fitness tracker and have jumped on the step-counting trend, you might envy those living in places where walking is a daily necessity or those with jobs that keep them on their feet all day. But what if you’re just commuting to the other side of your house, or don’t have many chances to add steps to your day? Here are some ways you can boost your activity level, too.
Before diving into tips, let's address something: the 10,000-step goal is overrated. Companies promote it because it sounds catchy and is a bit of a challenge for most people. If you’re starting off with a lower step count, feel free to adjust the target to something more attainable. For example, if you’re averaging 2,000 steps a day, set your goal to 5,000 to feel a sense of accomplishment as you improve your habits.
Once you consistently hit that goal, feel free to increase it. But remember, steps aren't everything; if you're engaging in other forms of exercise, you're still benefiting, even if those activities aren’t counted in your step tracker.
If you enjoy tracking your steps, consider trying these ideas:
Take walks
It may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it's effective. For a long time, I searched for opportunities to walk to the store or hike in interesting places. However, my days improved significantly (and my step count shot up!) once I started taking a simple walk to nowhere every morning.
Play an active video game
When this question pops up on Reddit, users often suggest particular video games. Pokémon Go encourages you to walk around to hatch eggs, and requires you to visit real-world locations to catch creatures and battle them. You can play it with just a free app on your phone. Another popular option is Nintendo’s Ring Fit Adventure, which gets you moving in your living room. We’ve also covered the fitness benefits of VR headsets; just make sure to pick a game that counts as steps on your tracker, since some only track arm movements.
Take your dog for a walk
I'm not suggesting you get a dog solely for the purpose of walking, but if you already have one, they’ll likely be eager to help you hit your step goal. Walk your own dog, a neighbor's dog, or even volunteer for a weekly shift at the local animal shelter.
Walk during your meetings
If you're frequently on phone calls in your home office, don’t resist the urge to get up and pace while chatting. And with so many meetings now on Zoom, think about taking those camera-off calls while strolling outdoors. Just remember to mute yourself and be courteous.
Try a walking video
If you can get past the initial awkwardness of walking in place, give one of the many walking exercise videos on YouTube a try—a genre that made our list of the best workout videos to do alone. You can also find regular dance-themed aerobics videos that work just as well.
