Cardio is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It improves your health, reduces your risk of disease, and can help you get in better shape. Whether your goal is to burn fat, boost your cardio, or just meet your step goal, walking is the secret.
Below are five simple tips to get more steps into your day with little to no inconvenience:
- Walk while you talk. Everyone has that mom they talk to every morning or that friend they know they’ll be on the phone with for at least 45 minutes sometimes. I have a golden rule: every time I take a call that I know is going to take a while, I go for a walk. This is a perfect time to slide in more steps. Most people sit on the couch or stand while on the phone, but when you start implementing this simple habit, you’ll see a large difference in not only your steps, but honestly, I find getting that blood flow moving really stimulates conversation too!
- Standing desk and/or mini treadmill. In the age after COVID, many of us work from home or sit at a desk in the workplace. Although there is a little upfront cost, I feel the long-term effects are absolutely beneficial of getting a standing desk and/or mini treadmill. Sitting all day is honestly so terrible for us, but in a modern age it’s pretty necessary. Now, don’t go standing or walking all day long—take your breaks and progress to longer periods of time. Over time, your body will get used to it, but just starting out, your body won’t be used to it, so ease into it! Here are what I would recommend based on my personal use and reviews I’ve read:
- [Standing Desk Link]
- [Mini Treadmill Link]
But don’t just take my word for it, research what’s best for you and see what you like!
- Change up habits or routines. Little changes can have a big impact. Here are some basic things you can do over time that can make a huge difference:
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator. This is a simple way to add extra cardio to your day, even if you’re just going up or down one floor.
- Park further away from your destination. This will force you to walk a little more each day.
- Take a brisk walk or run during your lunch break. If you don’t have time for a full workout, even 10 minutes of cardio can make a difference.
- Do some cardio exercises at home. There are many body-weight cardio exercises that you can do without any equipment, such as jumping jacks, burpees, and mountain climbers.
- Join a fitness class. This is a great way to get motivated and do a variety of cardio exercises in a short amount of time.
- App or fitness tracker. Most people who are starting a new journey or even those who have been on one for quite some time really love the idea of seeing progress, and I don’t blame them. When you see a number go up or a dial slowly reaching a goal, it’s truly super exciting to realize how much you’ve actually gotten done! It pushes you to fulfill your goal! Now I know you’ve probably seen that these types of things aren’t super accurate, but honestly, if you have a goal and continue to surpass it and grow, you’re being motivated and making objective progress. Isn’t that the point of your health and fitness journey anyway?! I really like the [FitBit Link] that I have, but do your research! There are so many cool options that either do other applications like an [Apple Watch Link] or just the fitness data like Fitbit. Really can’t go wrong with just the app on the iPhone either—I just like accessories!
- Go on an adventure.
Probably the most out-of-your-way tip, but I think of it as a fun one! Whenever you have the free time, instead of movie or series binging, go on an adventure somewhere. If you have a nice trail that you’ve never walked, walk it. If you have a farmers’ market near you, go check it out. Car show? Why not! Look for things in your community that get you out of the house and make plans with your friends or take it as some self-care time for yourself. Not only are you getting out and increasing your activity, but you’re seeing or learning new things in your area!I’m sure there are tons of cool neat ways to make your day a little bit more productive for yourself, and with anything, take it slow. Everyone has different schedules or similar situations to those above, so find what works for you