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Exercise

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Original poster

How do you do 10,000 steps a day when working in desk job?

86 replies

Littlemiss74 · 28/08/2021 18:59

I’m thinking of doing a charity challenge (Alzheimers Society) of 10,000 steps a day during September. I need to get back into regular exercise so I thought this might help give me an incentive.

I know to many people 10,000 steps a day is the norm but it isn’t for me. I work in a desk job 4 days a week and normally most of my steps during those 8 hours are to the kitchen & bathroom!

If you do 10,000 steps a day and have desk job please can you tell me how you do it?

OP posts:

Rogue1001 · 28/08/2021 20:26

I own a dog and go to exercise classes.

Paivaa · 28/08/2021 20:28

I get up at 5.30, go for a 20 minute run, then take the dog for a 40 minute walk, then by milling around sorting breakfasts , I'm usually at 8/9000 by 8/8.30am

torquewench · 28/08/2021 20:28

My Fitbit thinks I've done over 15k steps today (I definitely haven't), and has counted just under 3 hours of motorcycling as exercise 😁💪🏼

CovidCorvid · 28/08/2021 20:30

I’m currently having a garden office installed and am thinking about getting a walking desk…..so one of those higher desks and a platform treadmill. Not sure if it’s a recipe for disaster…..I’m not good at multitasking!

PlanetTeaTime · 28/08/2021 20:32

Get up early and go for a walk in the morning for about half an hour. If you can, get out at lunch time to go for another walk and then after work.

I got a dog a couple of years ago so now I have to make the time to go for a walk and its one of the best things I've ever done. Not only has my health improved but there's something magical about that morning walk. Even when if chucking it down with rain or freezing cold. There's this wonderful silence in the morning.

I've gone off on tangent...

Happycow37 · 28/08/2021 20:36

I did the 10000 steps a day for Brain Tumour research at the start of the year, so in the winter. Got myself a good waterproof jacket and some helpers who wanted to come out with me. I normally went a quick walk on lunch and then a good brisk hour in the evening, come rain or shine.

I decided that it didn’t matter if some days I didn’t get out, as long as the steps at the end made up for it, which they did.

I’ve carried on walking a few nights a week since then and kept it up during my pregnancy to stay fit. I’ll be out with the pram once baby is here as well.

boxcar · 28/08/2021 20:36

I have a full on, full time desk job & run twice a week. But even though I average 8-9 miles a week of running, I average about 4K steps a day.

Happycow37 · 28/08/2021 20:37

Oh and there’s also YouTube videos that aim to get your steps up so you can do it in the house.

itsgettingwierd · 28/08/2021 20:41

I got told not to aim for 10,000 steps but for exercise.

I've been for a 40 minutes quick walk today that was just under 5k.

I've still not reached 7000 steps because I'm on AL so not moving around as I would at work and read a lot this morning!

I have an Apple Watch now that records my exercise and I aim for 3 days of at least 30 minutes, 2 days of at least 45 and a day of at least an hour and then I do yoga or something the other day.

45 minutes brisk walk is better than 10,000 steps of pottering.

But I guess if it's a steps challenge you need to keep moving and so I'd recommend standing and marching on the spot frequently! Whilst making dinner, whilst bristling your teeth, watching some tv etc.

RedToothBrush · 28/08/2021 20:44

I've been trying to do 10,000 steps per day throughout August whilst DS is home from school. I'm finding time to do it the hardest thing tbh.

On an average day, I do manage about 3500 steps just pottering about the house with him. If I take DS for a walk during the day I can clock up about 2500. But I'm finding that realistically I have to do a long walk in the evening or early in the morning before DS is up to make up the rest.

Normally I'd get the steps in doing the school run.

The other thing is walking to the local shops to get that extra loaf of bread during the week rather than driving to the supermarket. It costs me more for the loaf there BUT I only buy the loaf and not other stuff I don't need and I'm not paying for petrol so ends up cheaper.

ajandjjmum · 28/08/2021 20:48

I have never really walked but started in January this year, and with the exception of half a dozen days, have done 10,000 plus each day. Sometimes I go on a long walk, but more often it's pottering in the house, walking around while I'm making calls (amazing how that adds up the steps) and a walk around my local area - which fortunately is beautiful and accessible.

Many times I end up marching at the end of the bed while watching the news though, to make up the 10,000 before I go to sleep!

HalzTangz · 28/08/2021 20:53

@Littlemiss74

I’m thinking of doing a charity challenge (Alzheimers Society) of 10,000 steps a day during September. I need to get back into regular exercise so I thought this might help give me an incentive.

I know to many people 10,000 steps a day is the norm but it isn’t for me. I work in a desk job 4 days a week and normally most of my steps during those 8 hours are to the kitchen & bathroom!

If you do 10,000 steps a day and have desk job please can you tell me how you do it?

For me, I go for a walk at lunch. I get up and speak to people in the same building instead of phoning or emailing, then I walk after work. If you drive, could you park further away from work and walk a mile or so in

MurielSpriggs · 28/08/2021 20:55

I walk to work and back.

HalzTangz · 28/08/2021 20:57

Also you tube walking workouts, there's loads where you can get 10000 steps done in your front room

UnaOfStormhold · 28/08/2021 21:01

I do phonecalls while pacing up and down and have occasionally joined teams meetings while walking - works best for either one to ones with people who don't mind or big meetings where most people have cameras off. I also have a cheap adjustable height desk and an alarm to move every hour - avoiding long uninterrupted stints of sitting has much better supporting evidence than 10,000 steps.

Unfashionable · 28/08/2021 21:05

I took my walking shoes to work then took my full lunch break and went out for an hour’s on my own. If you crack on, you can do >6k steps in an hour.

ajandjjmum · 28/08/2021 21:09

Meant to say, I've found the wonder of podcasts on my walks recently - came back from a 2 hours one, where I was joined by Shirley Ballas and Judy Murray - thoroughly enjoyed it!

teaandcrumpets35 · 28/08/2021 21:12

Walking at lunch and after work is usually enough for me. Combined with daily pottering I can reach 9-10k steps per day even with a sedentary job. I always find that cleaning and housework clock up the steps too.

SwedishEdith · 28/08/2021 21:14

I can't do it. I could when walking was part of my commute but as I wfh still, I can't fit it in. I've no intention of getting up at 5L30 to do it. Lots of my calls are for screen sharing so need to be in front on the screen and I often only manage to snatch 20 minutes for lunch so no time to go out for an actual walk.

MemoryGame · 28/08/2021 22:25

Normally I do around 5000 steps dropping DD off, then a 20 min walk at lunchtime and another in the evening after the kids are in bed.
I've now done >10000 every day since last Nov, I know at some point there will be a day when I can't, but the longer the unbroken streak gets, the harder it is to stop!

Haudyourwheesht · 28/08/2021 22:27

It needs to accumulate. I ran just over 10k this morning and it was just under 10,000 steps. But with the back and forwards of daily life you make up more than you'd think. You can get away without a good walk though, so if you can't factor one in I'd not bother. I walk 15-20 minutes twice a day so tend to do it.

Boredhimtodeath · 28/08/2021 23:01

Borrow my dog, she will get you there easy! She doesn’t settle unless I’ve done a 6 mile run with her - I think I’ve over trained her!
If you have kids could you maybe do something like geocaching to get them involved? Or couch to 5km and round it up to an hour each run.

Good luck!

Equalpayquery · 29/08/2021 08:11

@RedToothBrush I’ve found it’s a very difficult thing to do over the summer since I’ve lost the school run. It really needs a decent solitary walk to secure those 10k steps, and I think that active walking is different to pottering too. My kids are decent walkers but don’t walk quickly or purposefully enough to really add to my steps. They’re kids, they’re active in a different way. So I’m hoping that with the school run steps will become easier again.

GalaPie · 30/08/2021 17:09

I keep a rebounder stashed in a corner of the living room and top up my steps whilst watching telly in the evening.

Gwenhwyfar · 31/08/2021 16:41

@Goofers

It’s impossible!

It's really not.

As others have said, walk to work or part of the way, park further away if you have to take your car. Walk around at work eg go to get visitors yourself from reception. Even going to the kitchen, toilet and printer will mean walking a lot more than wfh.

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