How many steps before it counts?

Pedometers and activity trackers have become very popular in our efforts to live healthier. It's an easy and quick way to keep track of how much you're actually moving during a day. But most people have probably experienced coming home from work and seeing that it is very limited how many steps it has become in a working day.

But what do you do? 10,000 steps can seem completely overwhelming at this point, and then you may not even get out on that walk. But how many steps are actually needed before it has a health effect?

How many steps should you walk per day?

A new study has tried to make us wiser about this question. Here you will find that even though the group that walks about 10,000 steps a day experiences the greatest health effects measured by the risk of early death and the risk of cardiovascular disease, there are still large health effects to be gained on the way to the 10,000 steps.

ANYTHING is better than nothing, and around 4,000 steps, the effects would be 50% of the total by walking 10,000 steps. But the biggest effects were still achieving 10,000.

While the number of steps is important, it's also important to focus on the quality of your steps. Walking at a moderate to high intensity, where you feel a bit out of breath and heated, can lead to even greater health benefits than just walking a large number of steps at a slow pace.

7 tips to increase your daily step count

1. Set realistic goals: Start by setting yourself a realistic goal based on your current activity level and gradually increase it over time.
2. Find occasions to walk: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a walk during your lunch break, or go an extra round around the block after dinner.
3. Include the pedometer in your daily routine: Use a pedometer or activity tracker to keep track of your step count and motivate yourself to reach your goals.
4. Involve others: Create a competition with friends or colleagues to reach the highest number of steps during the week to keep motivation high.
5. Do exercise at work, for example, in the form of company fitness.
6. Create an active workplace that encourages movement.
7. Vary your route: Explore new trails or parks to keep your walk interesting and motivating.

Also take a look at this previous post to find inspiration to get a little extra step into the work.

Whether you reach 10,000 steps a day or not, the most important thing is to find a routine that fits your lifestyle and that you enjoy. A pedometer can be a useful tool to motivate you and hold you accountable – but it's important to remember that any activity contributes to your health and well-being, regardless of the number of steps.

So take the first step today and let your steps count towards a healthier lifestyle.