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Original poster

10k steps is easy ?

167 replies

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:16

I find that if I'm doing normal day to day housework I reach 10k steps quite easily - today for example I'm already on 5k from cooking lunch, washing up, doing laundry, putting laundry away and a bit of dusting and tidying. I've still got more to do so feel like I'll easily get to my 10k without trying too hard.

If I go for a walk/gym etc I usually get to 15-20k steps.

I'm basically wondering whether I'm doing too much housework compared to the norm 😅

OP posts:
saltandvinegarpringles · 21/02/2026 15:36

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:35

Oh that's a good point!
How do you make sure they're not tracked/make the watch less sensitive?

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Wear it on your non-dominant hand or wear it on your ankle while you're exercising.

Darkdiamond · 21/02/2026 15:36

Im am early years teacher with 3 primary school aged kids and on my feet all day. In order to get 10k I also have to do a walk after work. I dont feel like its easy to get 10k steps without factoring in an extra walk.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/02/2026 15:36

Do you have your watch on your left or right wrist? DH and I both wear our Apple Watches on our left wrists, but he’s left handed. He can rack up a lot more ‘steps’ - or even exercise - while doing food prep whereas mine is likely to not even register that I’ve been standing!

saltandvinegarpringles · 21/02/2026 15:35

oviraptor21 · 21/02/2026 15:35

Yep - a not doing much day except housework is around 2-3K steps on my Garmin and previously FitBit.
You do have to be careful that hand movements don't get tracked. Playing the piano can add lots of steps!

Yep, DH's count shoots up when he does painting!

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:35

oviraptor21 · 21/02/2026 15:35

Yep - a not doing much day except housework is around 2-3K steps on my Garmin and previously FitBit.
You do have to be careful that hand movements don't get tracked. Playing the piano can add lots of steps!

Oh that's a good point!
How do you make sure they're not tracked/make the watch less sensitive?

OP posts:
goz · 21/02/2026 15:35

BlueMum16 · 21/02/2026 15:29

I'm on 2,300. I've been ironing, tidying beds and doing the dishes.

Plus a 30 minute walk around Asda.

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I mean 3 out of 4 of those activities are basically standing still though?

oviraptor21 · 21/02/2026 15:35

Yep - a not doing much day except housework is around 2-3K steps on my Garmin and previously FitBit.
You do have to be careful that hand movements don't get tracked. Playing the piano can add lots of steps!

Brooklyn70 · 21/02/2026 15:34

i volunteer at a cafe for 3 solid hours and usually make 7,000 steps at the most.

i don’t understand what you do around the house.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 21/02/2026 15:34

Passthecake30 · 21/02/2026 15:23

I get my 10k in a day, but tend to have to walk at least 1hr on the top of the normal housework tasks. How are you tracking your steps?

yes same.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:34

ReluctantSwimMum · 21/02/2026 15:29

Your step count measure device (watch? phone?) might tell you that many steps, but pottering around the house is NOT equivalent to taking a decent walk outside.

If you're focusing on step count to improve health, then you should be raising your heart rate a little and getting exercise.

Oh yes that's a good point actually plus the fresh air and daylight

OP posts:
Iocanepowder · 21/02/2026 15:33

10k steps is definitely not easy for many of us.

I would love to do 10k steps but i work at a desk and then have to pick up my kids and start dinner.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:32

BlueMum16 · 21/02/2026 15:29

I'm on 2,300. I've been ironing, tidying beds and doing the dishes.

Plus a 30 minute walk around Asda.

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Oh I think mine is wildly inaccurate then :(

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:32

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 21/02/2026 15:29

A watch? If you're standing still and dusting you're going to be racking up the steps! I realised this when I was carrying my handbag in my watch hand, it wasn't counting anything because I wasn't swinging it.

You could get a step tracker that goes on your shoe, that's probably more accurate.

Edited

Yeh that's a good idea

OP posts:
FettleOfKish · 21/02/2026 15:32

ejnm · 21/02/2026 15:25

When I'm having a day where I'm not working out and just doing house stuff, I get about 2k

Same here. I went to London a few weeks ago, got up at 5am and navigated two airports, walked just about all day (Oxford Street and 2 museums) and clocked just less than 25,000 when I got back to the hotel at 11pm.

saltandvinegarpringles · 21/02/2026 15:32

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:29

Hmm, I must be tracking inaccurately then :(

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Yes, you will be.

My phone tracks my steps at work (I'm a dog walker) and I average about 18k steps a day over 5-6 hours. Baring in mind a lot of that is watching the dogs play, stopping while they sniff, driving etc. You won't be managing 5k steps just pottering about cooking and doing laundry in an average house - it'll be the movement of your arms/lifting that's bumping it up.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:31

BlueMum16 · 21/02/2026 15:28

So a 45 min walk is probably about 5km, so 5000 steps?

Have you set the watch up correctly for your height?

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I thought I had but I think I need to try again....
It did suggest measuring a distance and walking to get it more accurate so I've been intending to do that. Also as PP said maybe strapping it to my ankle?!

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 21/02/2026 15:29

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:26

Oh! I think my watch is probably quite inaccurate

Show quote history

I'm on 2,300. I've been ironing, tidying beds and doing the dishes.

Plus a 30 minute walk around Asda.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 21/02/2026 15:29

A watch? If you're standing still and dusting you're going to be racking up the steps! I realised this when I was carrying my handbag in my watch hand, it wasn't counting anything because I wasn't swinging it.

You could get a step tracker that goes on your shoe, that's probably more accurate.

ReluctantSwimMum · 21/02/2026 15:29

Your step count measure device (watch? phone?) might tell you that many steps, but pottering around the house is NOT equivalent to taking a decent walk outside.

If you're focusing on step count to improve health, then you should be raising your heart rate a little and getting exercise.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:29

saltandvinegarpringles · 21/02/2026 15:26

Unless you live in a mansion, your step count isn't accurate.

A mile is around 2.2k steps (on average).

Hmm, I must be tracking inaccurately then :(

OP posts:
saltandvinegarpringles · 21/02/2026 15:29

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:27

Using a Garmin watch

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Then it'll be tracking your arm movement, not your actual steps. Put it on your ankle and see what the difference is.

goz · 21/02/2026 15:28

10k steps is a really minimally active person. If someone drives to work every day and sits down until they drive home, then lounges about they might struggle to get 10k in but it’s still objectively not a lot of walking. I don’t think it’s ever really been suggested that is it a lot? I feel like several years ago the aim was 20k daily, no?

BlueMum16 · 21/02/2026 15:28

Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:25

That wasn't my intention. I have PEM so I have to be really careful not to overdo it on a given day, but have also been set a target to go on a 45 mins walk a day, and am just trying to figure out how to balance the two

Show quote history

So a 45 min walk is probably about 5km, so 5000 steps?

Have you set the watch up correctly for your height?

loveyouradvice · 21/02/2026 15:28

For me, 2,000 steps takes 20 minutes.... so like previous poster I tend to need to walk for an hour or so (6,000 steps) on top of the 3-4,000 steps I do in the home.... easy when walking DC to primary school, needs a bit of planning now she is independent. Think your counter may be way off - they often are....

Original poster
Angels1111 · 21/02/2026 15:27

Passthecake30 · 21/02/2026 15:23

I get my 10k in a day, but tend to have to walk at least 1hr on the top of the normal housework tasks. How are you tracking your steps?

Using a Garmin watch

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