10,000 seems like a nice round number to achieve a fitness goal, doesn’t it? This figure actually dates back to the 1964 Olympics when a Japanese company marketed a step-meter device to those that were health-conscious. It was called Manpo-kei, which literally translates to ‘10,000-step meter’.

10,000 steps roughly translates to burning off 500 calories in a day. This tactic was later picked up by modern fitness companies like FitBit. Walking is by far the activity that almost everyone does in one day, and that is why these companies give you the 10,000-step goal to achieve as a daily target.

However, is 10,000 the right number for you?

While it’s a good starting point, most trainers and nutritionists would recommend that you slowly keep increasing the number of steps you take in a day for a non-sedentary lifestyle and a healthy body. Even for those whose lifestyles and jobs do not accommodate walking long distances, experts recommend aiming for anything between 8000-14000 steps.

How can you achieve 10,000 steps?

Here are a few activities you can do to hit the 10,000 step goal:

1. Walking your pet
2. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
3. Go on hikes
4. Designate a time for walking/running
5. Park farther away from your destination so that you walk more steps.

Tell us some of the activities you would do to hit the 10,000 step mark! And remember, this number is just a start – keep increasing your steps gradually to feel more healthy and active.