Did you know, people who take fewer than 5,000 steps every day are considered to be sedentary or inactive? The ideal number of steps to hit in a day for optimum health is 10,000—but this can be hard for those of us with desk jobs. Below are a few tips to stretch your steps.
Hit the stairs. This is one of the easiest tricks. Opt for the stairs over an elevator whenever possible.
Park further away. While it may seem great to grab a parking spot right by the entrance to your destination, purposely parking across the lot—or, even better, across the street—means you will grab some steps en route to your destination.
Make a walking date. Instead of sitting down with a friend for coffee, suggest you go and hit the park. Walking and talking often makes for a more stimulating experience anyway.
Get a dog. It may seem extreme to get a dog just to up your daily steps, but dogs bring so much joy to their owners’ lives, in addition to helping them become more active. If you have time in your schedule to care for a pup, consider adopting a rescue and watch your steps soar.
Drink tons of water. Why does this trick work? Improved hydration means more trips throughout the day to the restroom! Bonus: being properly hydrated has a myriad other health benefits too.
