Been there. Walking helped me a lot too. Keep walking.
I've been struggling with my mental health for so long and I won't go into it here but yeah 7k steps a day then slowly things just got better. The path I take used to feel overwhelming but after regularly walking that path it doesn't intimidate me anymore. I would regularly wake up and I actually look forward to go on my morning walks. I don't really pressure myself to jog or go fast I just walk a steady sometimes even slow pace and just enjoy an audiobook. I know the popular number to hit is 10k steps but I heard 7k could work well enough.
I would set a time to walk 3k steps at the start of the day and the rest of the 4k just accumulates naturally as I go about my day. I've been happier and much more productive.
Whenever I'd hit the 7k it's like instant dopamine.
Been there. Walking helped me a lot too. Keep walking.
I had the same thing happen when I committed to a daily walk; the consistency mattered way more than chasing 10k steps. Keeping it slow with podcasts turned it from “exercise” into a ritual I actually craved every morning.
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Do you have a watch or something to track your steps? I work from home and unless I deliberately go out, I walk very, very little in my day. I've been thinking about tracking steps as a way to motivate me to move more.
The health app on my phone tracks my steps
Try a walking pad if being outside is a hassle. You also measure by time rather than steps. Generally speaking anything that can make it easier works. I've seen people binge watch shows while they walk on a walking pad. One of the upsides of doing it indoors
I’ve been working on that too. I do an hour walk every day and it feels great for my mental and physical health. Way to go on 7000!
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Been there. I started something similar which is hitting the gym and building muscles. Trust me consistency is the key here, building up a momentum will help you in a way that you can’t imagine now. Keep going! 👏🏻
Actually I did used to go to the gym but I realised that it takes to much friction to get started so I switched to walking. I also do other exercises on top of walking but generally speaking I don't really go to the gym anymore lol. I'm glad that you find it enjoyable
7k is nothing to sniff at old chap. Good for you!
There is a subreddit called r/walking !
Ohhh I'll check it out!
It's honestly amazing how much it can change things. I try and do a morning walk most days, and it makes a significant difference to my mood. I've also dropped a load of weight since I started walking intentionally again; though that's mostly due to the calorie deficit from having more control of my diet.
Actually weight loss was actually one of my motivators at first. So it's nice hearing that you can get results. Rn I try not to fixate on my weight too much but it is nice to see it go down.
the best recommendations always come from strangers☺️
Do you live in a year-round warm climate? Asking because I don’t but I’ve considered getting a walking pad for winter.
Well it's tropical so in a way but yeah rain is like a problem for me sometimes. Walking pads are great for convenience. You can place it in front of a TV and binge shows. I have a dream indoor walking setup where I buy an omnidirectional walking pad for virtual reality. Then like I could just walk in fantastical places
I picked a specific loop near my place that used to feel like a chore and now its just mine, like the trees recognize me or something. Something about making a path familiar instead of intimidating really shifts how the whole day sits.