Step-tember!

How many steps do you think you take per day?

Perhaps you already own a fitness tracker device and you are very aware of how many steps you take per day, but perhaps, you are completely unaware of how active you are on a day-to-day basis. If you fall into the second category, do not worry – this is one of the easiest lifestyle changes to make happen. Simply adding a few thousand more steps into your daily routine could lift your daily mood, help you control your weight and blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol, and even reduce your risk of a heart attack. A total of 10,000 steps per day is the equivalent of burning 400-500 kcal per day – an incredibly large number for just taking a few more easy steps (in the right direction).

You may be thinking – ‘how on earth am I going to do that many steps a day?!’. Well, it is a lot easier than you think to add steps into your everyday life. Consider the list below for ideas:

• Get off a stop early on the bus/tube on the way to work and walk the rest of the way

• Take the stairs in the office occasionally, rather than the lift or escalator

• Do ‘walking meetings’ - talk to work colleagues or friends whilst also being active

• Park a bit further away in the shop’s car park (top tip - this also helps stress levels as you change your mindset about having to park further away from the doors when it is busy

• Take ‘walking breaks’ around the office rather than sitting down again in the staff room

• Consider walking as a way of experiencing the outdoors and getting some fresh air – rather than a chore

Lots, lots more! Try and think of some ways you could add more steps into your daily routine and send them back to us – perhaps we could even have a discussion in our forum too!

So, next time you are traveling a short distance, consider walking for part or all the journey and see how your mental and physical health improves!

Catch you next month – Hannah x