Walking is one of the best ways to work out, no matter how you do it. Walking is good for you in many ways, but you have to make time for it, especially if you work at a desk or from home. If you can’t easily get steps from other places, you have to do it on purpose. Aim to take at least 8,000 steps a day to stay healthy. Getting more steps may seem hard or time-consuming, but you can easily reach your fitness goals by making a few small changes to your daily routine. It’s important to have a plan, put it into action, and take things to step by step. (Also read: What it means for your health to be good at holding your breath )
In a recent Instagram post, weight loss coach Vatche Shakarian gave some easy and effective ways to get more steps.
1. Take the stairs when you can.
There is nothing wrong with using elevators and escalators because they are helpful. But if you want to take more steps, using the stairs when you can is a good idea. If you have an elevator at work, your apartment, or another place, try to use the stairs instead. Even though it’s “just” a few hundred steps, they can add up over a week.
2. Park further away from the store.
One easy way to get more steps is to park further away from the store. Parking in the front is nice, but parking in the back can help you climb a few steps, even if it’s just a few hundred. This can easily be more than 1,000 steps if you have to go to more than one store.
3. Start your day with some movement.
Getting up and moving to start the day can give you a boost. It can also help you plan out your steps ahead of time. If you wait until the end of the day to plan all your steps, it might be harder to reach your goals. Even more so if you want to take it easy at night.
4. Go for a walk during breaks/lunches
Keeping busy during the week can help you lose fat. Do more of any kind of physical activity you like. Walk, swim, ride a bike, etc. Do something you enjoy doing. But don’t just think of it as a way to burn more calories. Because working out is about more than that.
5. Set the alarm or reminder
You can stay active by setting alarms or reminders on your phone or sports watch. Reminders can help if you feel like you forget to move. If you work at a desk, you should get up and move around during the day. It will make you feel better and get you more steps.
6. Take a short walk after meals
Did you know that a 10-15 minute walk after a meal can help your body digest the food? Suppose you made it a habit to walk for about 10 minutes after each meal. That could be more than 30 minutes a day. Try going for a walk after you eat. It could make a big difference.
7. Walk when you’re on the phone
Try walking around during the call, whether it’s a zoom call or a regular phone call. You can both do what you say and say what you do. This is one of the tips that gets the least attention, but it works very well.
8. Add walking to your to-do list
You do the dishes, do the laundry, and clean. Walking is something that is also very important. Seeing it as something ‘non-negotiable’ can help psychologically. Add it to your to-do list and watch the steps pile up.
