Nowadays, it’s becoming easier and easier to track your fitness progress, whether it’s through an app on your phone or a tracker on your wrist. But even though your workout data is now more easily available to you, that doesn’t mean that the workout part is any easier to achieve. If you’re struggling to get more steps in during the day, here are some ways you can boost your step count.
Set a Goal for Yourself
It’s one thing to want to have a higher daily step count, but it’s another thing entirely to actually go out and do it. It can be tough to succeed when you’re not even sure what counts as success. That’s why it’s important that you set goals that are challenging, yet still attainable. You don’t need to have a crazy goal to see progress. You could simply wish to get a certain amount of steps in every day and raise that limit slowly over the weeks and months.
Go Out of Your Way to Walk More
Once you have an idea of what success would mean to you, you need to figure out how you’re going to get there. And the only way you’re going to get there is if you make some changes to your everyday activities. Chances are, there are plenty of situations you come across every day that are opportunities for adding steps to your daily count. Do you take the elevator at work? Take the stairs — even part-way — instead. Surely you go to the store on a weekly basis. Park farther away from the store, or even walk there if it’s manageable. Take a hard look at your daily activities and see where you might be able to fit more steps in.
Be Ready to Walk
It might sound silly, but it really is simple: if you’re not prepared to walk, you’re probably not going to walk. For instance, if you wear uncomfortable shoes to work, what do you think are the chances that you’ll want to take those extra daily steps? While some jobs can’t allow you to wear your sneakers to work, you could always pack them in a bag, along with clothes that are more suitable for walking. It might not be an ideal situation, but if a higher step count really means something to you, this is a very small compromise.
Add a Walking Routine to Your Day
Never underestimate the power of ritual. It’s been said that when you want to achieve something, motivation will get you started, but discipline will keep you going. A daily walking routine during the evening is a great way to up your daily step count while also giving you a chance to unwind from the day. While it might be difficult to start, once you’re in the routine, you’ll eventually find that it’s just as strange not to go for a walk.
Compete With Your Friends and Family
Competition is another great motivating tool. Many fitness trackers have leaderboards built into their service, which makes it easy to keep track of your friends’ and family members’ daily progress. Seeing that your co-worker is ahead of you in steps for the day can be just the thing to get you on your feet. But if you find that even that’s not enough, consider putting a little money on it, even if it’s something as basic as the loser buying the others dinner once a week. Giving yourself consequences for not hitting your goals can be a great way to keep yourself in check.
[Image via Getty]
