[dropcap]I[/dropcap] confess! I don't walk nearly as much as I should, despite knowing the additional calories burned walking. From driving to the office, sitting on my stability ball for 12 hours (yes, that's my office chair, more to come on this), driving home and driving to the gym. I don't walk anywhere. Am I lazy…maybe. Do I have enough time to walk 100 miles a day…no. This probably sounds a lot like you.
As business professionals, we don't have time to be walking everywhere. It's just not possible as much as we want it to be.
The people of Hadza (ethnic group in Tanzania) walk an average of 5 miles a day, approximately 10,000 steps. This is ideal and of the 4 major industrialized countries, they all come in under 9,000 steps a day. Compare these numbers to the average professional, and we're way behind.
So how can we start walking more?
Set a goal
The first step to walking more is simply by setting a goal. The goal can be anything from taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking at the furthest parking spot. It doesn't matter.
By setting a goal, you will force yourself to compete against it. As a business professional you're a natural competitor, so you won't want the goal to defeat you.
After your initial goal is beat, start setting higher goals until you surpass 10,000 steps a day.
Use a Pedometer
You may think a pocket pedometer is a silly instrument that gets in the way, but they're actually incredibly useful in motivating you to walk more. They'll even help increase your walking speed.
A study showed people were more likely to walk 2,000 more steps with a pedometer. It then went to show that individual activity levels increased by 27%. Why? Because the pedometer forces you to stick to goals. It motivates you to be less lazy and walk.
There are many pedometers on the market, but I only use one. The Striiv Pedometer. To me this is hands down the best pedometer on the market.
I like Striiv because it makes me stick to my goals by motivating me. It tracks my stats, rewards me and even syncs to my phone. The cool part is, I can challenge other people. If you're going to get a pedometer, get the Striiv Play Bluetooth Smart Pedometer (affiliate). This pedometer is one of the smaller products Striiv sells.
Would you be willing to challenge me to a 7 day Striiv step contest? I'm in the office for 10+ hours a day so no excuses.
Benefits of Walking
The benefits of walking are endless, but there are a few benefits that should encourage any business professional to walk more:
- Keeps you sharp - nourishes brain tissue
- Reduces stress - studies show that walking benefits your mood
- Increases your energy - helps encourage better sleep, which means more energy the next day.
Walking more isn't difficult. Even a lazy man can walk more. It's just a matter of using tools such as a walking pedometer to encourage you to exceed the goals you set for yourself. By setting goals and using a step counter such as the Striiv Smart Pedometer, you are more capable or reaching the 10,000 steps a day. Think as a Hadza, walk everywhere.
Take the stairs, park further away, walk down the hall every 15 minutes, jog in place…make the change.