You have probably heard the saying, “Walk 10,000 steps a day for better health.” It is a popular fitness goal widely promoted in recent years. But the question is, is it worth the hype? Physical activity of any kind has tremendous benefits for your overall well-being. But what are the benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day apart from the fact that it helps in weight management? The following article discusses some of the unconventional benefits of walking 10,00 steps daily.
Unconventional Benefits of Walking 10,000 Steps a Day
Walking 10,000 steps a day has become a popular fitness goal. But, apart from weight management, there are various other benefits of walking 10,00 steps a day.
- Better mood: Any form of physical exercise enhances your mood and reduces stress. When you achieve the daily goal of 10,000 steps, you feel a sense of accomplishment, which leads to a better mood and higher satisfaction levels at the end of the day.
- Better sleep: Studies have shown that walking 10,000 steps can improve sleep quality and restfulness.
- Improved digestion: To complete 10,000 steps daily, many go for a brisk walk after every meal. This enhances digestion and regulates blood sugar levels.
Incorporating 10,000 steps into your daily fitness goal can change your life. However, not everyone can go for a brisk walk in this busy schedule. Fortunately, with products like the Yrun under-desk treadmill that can be easily purchased online, you can achieve your goal even while working on your laptop. These treadmills are compact and specifically designed to fit under your desk so you can walk while working.
Now that you know about some of the unconventional benefits of walking 10,00 steps daily, let us see how it can be incorporated into your daily lives.
How to Incorporate Walking in Our Lives
The following are a few steps you can take to incorporate walking into your everyday life:
- Find a walking buddy:
Walking with a friend or family member can make the activity more enjoyable. Walking helps maintain bone density and muscle strength. These two critical components are essential for physical health. Hence, when you take someone with you for walking, you also get a partner with whom you can get fit together.
- Explore the nature
You must walk outdoors whenever possible. Walking in nature is not only great for your muscles but also for your cardiovascular health. A brisk walk outside can pump up your heart rate, improving your cardiovascular fitness. This reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes. It also helps maintain blood pressure and cholesterol. Moreover, studies show that walking outside can enhance cognitive functions and memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Walking has also been shown to alleviate problems such as Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Mix it up
Change your walking routes to keep things interesting. You can also sometimes walk on your treadmill in your home if the weather doesn’t allow you to walk outside. Walking on treadmills is excellent if you are feeling demotivated to go for a walk outside and just want to get a quick workout. You can listen to some music or podcasts or even work while walking at the same time. Walking has many benefits, and the only thing that matters in this form of physical activity is that you are moving your body at least for some time during the day.
- Set a goal
Set a goal for yourself that is achievable. If 10,000 steps a day feels like a lot for you, start with 5,000 steps and slowly work your way up. The only thing that matters here is ensuring that you are putting yourself through some kind of physically exerting activity every day.
Conclusion
Walking 10,00 steps a day is not just another gimmicky trend that is going around in social media. It has a lot of benefits, even apart from the conventional boon of weight management. It can be a valuable goal for many people, especially those with a sedentary lifestyle. However, remember that the fitness goal that you set for yourself should be achievable, and you should listen to your body’s signals and avoid over-exerting yourself in the process.