How Many Steps You Ought to Take a Day

10,000 steps a day became a default amount that most fitness trackers and phone applications propose to their users. Originally, it came from Manpo-Kei, a brand-name pedometer that was sold in 1965 in Japan. This title literally translates to “10,000 steps meter.” Later, this number got popularized by other more modern companies.

5-Minute Crafts wants to help you find the optimal amount of daily steps that you can comfortably incorporate into your life.

It can be hard to achieve 10,000 steps a day.

These many steps equal approximately 5 miles, and it’s claimed that 10,000 steps can bring physical and mental benefits. While those who have active jobs can reach them by the end of the day, less active or sedentary people won’t get to this number with daily activity alone. Conversely, it can have a negative effect on you if you constantly fail to reach the 10,000 steps a day.

A lower step count can also be optimal for you.

Taking fewer than 10,000 steps a day has been proven to be beneficial too. In one study, older women who did 4,400 steps a day showed improvements in their lives compared to those who were only achieving 2,700 steps a day. And those who completed 7,500 daily steps showed even better results.

How many steps you need to take

Your activity level also depends on your daily steps:

• Inactive — if you take less than 5,000 steps per day

• Average — if you take anywhere from 7,500 to 9,999 steps per day

• Very active — if you take more than 12,500 steps per day

Depending on your activity goals, you can adjust your daily movement. If you want to improve your fitness level, you can set your target goal to 500-1000 daily steps higher than the average number of steps you take a day.

How to incorporate more steps in your day

• Dance to your favorite song.
• Go on a walking date.
• Opt for stairs instead of an elevator.
• Park far away to add up more steps by walking to and from your car.
• Opt for taking a long way instead of shortcuts.
• Try to go and talk to your coworkers in person rather than calling or emailing them.
• Get up and walk around your house every time you’ve got a spare minute.
• After grocery shopping, walk a little extra to return the shopping cart all the way to the store.
• When you talk on your phone, walk around the room.
• Visit more parks and interesting places in your city.