SAHM step count - Do you also run around like a headless chicken all day?

[Twopea]

I have two small kids, one in primary school and one at home. I am constantly shattered. I recently got a smart watch and realised my step count is pretty high (c. 12,000 steps per day). School run accounts for a quarter of this max. Is this an abnormally high step count for everyday life as a SAHM?

I’d say that’s average. I’ve usually done 3k before 9am and I drive to school. My average is about 16k but can range between 10-22k

I work from home most days my average is 25000+, I am neither fit nor particularly active. I would consider your figure a quite day.

I run round after a toddler, a baby and a dog and I also do around 12k. I don't have a school run yet, but I do walk the dog (most days 😬).

Having small kids is tiring. 12k steps is not particularly high. Feeling shattered is more likely from the general stress and busyness and any potential lost sleep.

Check out your underlying health.

Pretty average I think (sorry). I work from home full time but will reach at least 10k each day just from pottering about and a short lunchtime walk.

Not yet but my son is just starting to crawl and isn’t very fast yet. I suspect the running around like a headless chicken after him is coming soon.

Nope that's very normal. I am not a SAHM do a sedentary job but taking dc to school and going into the office with a walk out at lunch to get a sandwich plus housework in the evening does 12k. Not over exerted and sat down for 7 to 8 hours.

I work from home most days my average is 25000+, I am neither fit nor particularly active. I would consider your figure a quiet day.

I can't see how this is possible unless your WFH job is a personal trainer or something. We recently moved house and I did 24K steps. I did not stop for a minute that day. 25K steps would result in a very fit and active person, so I'd actually question if the counter is wrong.

I am a SAHP too, drive my 3 kids to and from school and I usually do around 12k steps also.
I don't do any exercise or walking.

This thread is nuts. It's like the opposite of the normal Mumsnet: I only eat one big leafy green salad a day thread, but it's oh-so scrumptious and filling.

I don't have a step counter but I carry my phone on my most of the time and so will be recording the majority of them. I did about 13,000 steps yesterday (as recorded by my phone) and that's a very high day for me, about 6.5 miles. I'm not a SAHM but I get home from work at 4 and am with the kids after that. No idea how anyone takes so many steps in their own house unless they're doing constant chores. I'd rather sit down and play with the kids or talk to my husband or look at my phone.

That is simply not possible unless you've missed out that you run a marathon in your lunch break. Or is your step tracker counting arm movements when you're typing?

@Marblessolveeverything "I work from home most days my average is 25000+, I am neither fit nor particularly active. I would consider your figure a quite day."

Have you considered getting your step counter checked? That's 12 miles!

@SnapdragonToadflax I live on the third floor, so up and down them at least four times a day. A very quick lap of a small park every day and a short stroll after work to the local shop.

When I worked in the office I clocked more. Moving is very important for health so I do make the effort to walk rather than drive etc.

Generally I do more at weekends as so most of my friends, coast walk for brunch etc. When my children were young I definitely did a lot more.

I rarely use my watch with a step counter. I walk about 0.8m each way for work and usually run some errands while I'm at work, but I only ever reach 10k steps if I go out for a run!

There is absolutely no way on this earth anyone does 25000 steps when working from home and just pottering. 12k sounds about right for whar you describe. I don’t think I’ve ever done 25k. My max was 22k and that was spending most of the day on a city break walking around the city. I’ve a friend who does about that a day, she works on her feet, gives her dog 2 proper walks a day and does 2 hiit classes most days

I’ve just checked my phone and I average 15k on weekdays — walk to and from work, and moving around between different rooms and buildings on campus.

Either your Fitbit is wrong or you are incredibly active - that’s an insanely high daily step count, I walk every day and rarely hit over 20,000.

If you are in your feet all day i guess.
I hit about 12,000 steps in days i know i have walked 4 miles on a walk a then pottered at home.

For someone wfh with no dog or school run to do, 10k is actually quite a struggle and certainly not something you’d get from just “pottering around” 🙄. I do 10k every day but I have to really think about it and go for extra walks to do it.

That’s about 10 miles. The last time I did that was during a DofE expedition and there’s no way doing that every day could be considered not active. I think your watch is wrong, sorry!

Thank can't be right, that's over 10 miles of walking

Looking after small children is busy enough without worrying about steps, do mums with young children monitor that? Step counters weren't a thing when I had my first child, thank goodness if it's become yet another thing to beat women up with

Some trackers definitely count hand movements as steps. My fitbit tracks 7000 if I go for a walk and about 1500 on wfh days. No way could I rack up a couple of miles just in the house before work.

Just checked and my sons do similar. I suppose I am active I always walk when reading any documents. Listening to meetings intend to get up and walk around to stretch.

My stats for the month are within seventeen to twenty six. I don't wear Fitbit when typing, hate any jewellery on when writing.

i definitely moved more with children younger. I was always of the belief it is good for the body and mind more in a fresh air and stretch way.

I do see some friends sitting a lot in the evening after sitting all day, which wouldn't work for my back or my sense of wellbeing.

Interesting that some are barely getting the recommended ten thousand to maintain health. That would be a bit of a worry for keeping fit and healthy from my perspective because I don't do sports and my gym membership is theory only.

You shouldn't be shattered on that step count.

I'd look at other reasons why. Have you tested your iron?

I do that on a day where I don't consider myself to run around like a headless chicken! 4-5 days a week I do 18-25k steps a day. I'm not exhausted.

I get to 10k without children at home (all grownup) and mostly drive, it's not that many