How many steps should I take each day?

It’s a common belief that to be healthy, you need to aim for 10,000 steps a day. But is this number beneficial? Do we need to walk that many steps each day to maintain great physical health?

The origins of the ‘10k steps a day’ belief stems from a Japanese health company that sold a pedometer called Manpo-kei. This translates to English as ’10,000 steps’, and ‘meter’, and as a result, the myth of doing 10k steps a day was born.

Despite the popularity of setting the goal of 10,000 daily steps, there is very little scientific research that supports it. While physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, several forms of exercise contribute to great health and fitness, many of which don’t involve walking thousands of steps.

Sports, weight lifting, dancing, swimming, and yoga are all highly effective forms of exercise that do not necessarily contribute to a high step count, yet they still contribute to improved cardiovascular and respiratory fitness.

Even if you choose walking as your preferred form of exercise, you don’t necessarily need to hit 10,000 steps every day. As easy as this sounds, it can be tiring and time-consuming to get this many steps into your daily routine.

Research suggests that it is important to aim for a minimum of approximately 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every day. For many people, this equates to between 4,000-6,000 steps. Remember, it is also important to add regular weight training and flexibility exercises to your weekly routine.

Ultimately, it's up to you as to how many steps you can and want to fit into your daily routine. Don't stress about not reaching 10,000 steps a day. As long as you're getting in daily physical movement, you will be supporting your body and brain to stay healthy.