’m not sure when exactly this happened but some time in the last few years step trackers became super trendy. Like crazy trendy. Like fire your bridesmaid because she wants to wear her fitness band to your wedding kind of trendy. This means that the concept of 10,000 steps a day is now a ‘thing’ many of us are aspiring to. I’m a huge fan and daily striver of this goal but you have to admit, it’s a bit of a weird concept to count your steps every day. It’s kind of like counting how many times you blink. When did we become these type of humans?
I’ve been walking 10,000 steps every day for the past three years and I cannot tell you how much my life has improved. I sleep better, I don’t gain weight as easily, I’m happier and my body loves me for all the movement I’m getting. If I get to the end of the day and I’m feeling a bit stressed and out of control, 9 times out of 10 it’s because I haven’t done my steps yet. I’m seriously addicted. Some people are a bit reticent to join the steppers club but I’m adamant that anyone can do this. I’m also adamant that everyone should do this. Here are a few ways you can get your 10,000 steps in without ruining your life or annoying everyone you’ve ever met.
Aim for a dedicated 30 minute walk every day
Depending on where you live, it might be very easy or very hard for you to get your steps up during the day. When I’m in Melbourne living in my inner city suburb, I don’t even have to try to get my steps up. By the time I walk to the shops, the post office and the gym, I’m totally sorted for the day. When I stay with my parents in Canberra though it’s a totally different story. I have to set aside a full hour to go for a walk around the lake because Canberra isn’t a walkable city. You can’t help where you live but you need to be aware. After your first week of wearing a step tracker, you’ll know how much walking you need to add to your day. No matter what your living situation, you should always aim to get a 30 minute walk in every day as a minimum. It doesn’t have to be strenuous or on a million degree incline, it just has to happen every day.
Say yes to everything
Say yes to taking the rubbish out, walking the dog, going to the post office, moving the car, ducking to the shops, getting the vacuum cleaning out of the garage. Any activity that requires extra steps – put your hand up for them. After a while it just becomes a habit and you’ll be sneaking in extra steps without even thinking about it.
Be deliberately inefficient
Sometimes if I get to the end of the day and I need to up my steps, I’ll take the recycling out one item at a time. Yes, that seems totally idiotic but I pop my headphones on with a podcast playing and run up and down the stairs to slam my last few thousand steps.
This week on Straight and Curly, Kelly and I are talking about the concept of doing 10,000 steps every day and whether or not you should do it too. Hint: Do it. It’s the best thing in the world.
There’s also a new episode of Sweet Teen Club out this week and we’re talking about Beverly Hills 90210. And if you been a bit annoyed about the sound quality of the last few episodes, this is the last one that was iPhone recorded. Thank god. Stacey’s mic has a mute button we didn’t know about until it was too late. We will never make that mistake again. Book yourself a table at the Peach Pit and put on your best pair of long denim shorts. We’re heading out with the Walshes.
I also have a bonza giveaway this week – the lovely people at Misfit Shine have given me one of their step trackers to give away!
All you need to do is sign up to my email list and make me giggle in the comments. Maybe tell me your best ever falling over story? I once fell down the stairs at the theatre and cracked my nose on my friends butt and got a blood nose. That was awesome. Tell me some stories like that!
So with the stepping thing…
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Are you are stepper? Do you have a step tracker? Or do you remain unconvinced about the whole stepping thing?
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