Woodlands-area moms are counting steps, especially this time of year. If you came up with a list of New Years’ Resolutions for 2024, one of them is probably getting fitter and/or leading a healthier lifestyle. A common goal for the moms we’ve chatted with is to improve their fitness by walking 10,000 steps a day.
Of course, achieving a whopping 10,000 steps each and every day (until the end of the year, mind you!) is much easier said than done. Here are a few painless and possible ways to reach the daily milestone before the clock strikes midnight!
1. Use phone time as walking time. The next time you’re on the phone with a friend, instead of chillaxing while you shoot the breeze, use that moment as an opportunity to get in some steps. If you’re one of those people that can talk on the phone for hours at a time, you’ll have no problem quickly getting several thousand steps, and without thinking much of it.
2. Park further than usual. You’ve probably heard this time and time again, but only because it’s a useful tip to help to attain that step goal. Next time you hit the mall, instead of circling the parking lot fifty times to find that premium spot, take a breath and settle for the space at the very back. It takes a shorter amount of time to park further and walk to the front than it does to wait five minutes for a closer spot; plus, you’ll be adding to your step count for the day. How lovely!
3. Take a daily walk. One of the best ways to get more steps is to go on a walk or jog, and fresh air has proven to be good for enhancing health. It doesn’t matter if you walk for a couple of miles or only down the neighborhood block and back. Every step counts, so hop off the sofa and take your legs for an exercise. If the chilly weather is scaring you away, check out our article Seven Tips to Enjoying the Outdoors (Even Though It’s Cold) to calm your nerves about the cold.
4. Treat yourself. 10,000 steps in one day is a pretty big feat, let alone achieving that every day of week. It can be easy to get defeated with a goal such as this one, which is why it’s important to treat yourself from time-to-time. Find something that you enjoy, whether it’s a favorite dessert or a movie you’ve been wanting to see, and reserve it as a reward for if you accomplished your step goal every day that week. Having an end-of-the-week treat can serve as motivation, making the whole process less monotonous.
5. Create a daily schedule. This is one of the less fun options on the list, but having a daily schedule might keep you on track with your goal. Not a planning type of person? The good thing about this idea is that you only have to make the schedule once. Your schedule might look something like this: by 11:00, I’ll have 3,000 steps done; by 3:00, I’ll have finished 4,000 steps; by 9:00, I'll have gotten the last 3,000 in. Deciding on a simple agenda like this one gives you a plan and accountability, both useful tools to accomplishing any goal.
6. Decrease your step goal. A daily step goal can be a valuable objective to have, but if your mission is to be healthier, you don’t necessarily need 10,000 steps to get there. You might want to shoot for half of that amount first. 5,000 steps a day is still a healthy, and easier, goal to pursue. As time goes on, and you get into the habit of taking just 5,000 steps a day, increase your goal by one thousand steps each week until you get to the big 10,000.
7. One last suggestion… Hopefully, the previous tips are useful enough to get you cranking out those steps, but if all else fails, you can try this last one. Fasten a modest-sized slice of chocolate cake to the hook of a fishing pole, and attach the pole to your forehead, suspending the chocolate cake right in front of you (but at least an arms-length away.) P.S. If you suspect that you’ll use this tip, get your supplies from Academy ASAP, as they’ve reported a steep shortage on fishing poles.
