3 Quirky Lifestyle Changes That Force You To Walk More
Step up your daily walking with these offbeat lifestyle shifts. Discover three fun and unusual changes that’ll have you walking your way to better health.
Walking is great for the mind and body. It gives you a chance to breathe fresh air and relax while burning extra calories and keeping your body moving. If there’s one thing you could change to become fitter and healthier, it would be to walk more.
Most of us need help getting anywhere near 10,000 steps a day, but if you aim for this you will see countless health benefits. Your body composition improves, as does your general fitness. The great thing about walking is that it’s not as damaging to your joints as running – plus, you can do it anytime, anywhere.
If you’re struggling to increase your step count, here are three quirky lifestyle changes that force you to walk more every day:
Set a 20-minute rule
This is a rule I completely made up, but it helps you get more steps in every single day. If you need to go somewhere, look up directions on Google Maps and see how long it will take to walk.
The rule is simple: if it takes 20 minutes or less to get there by foot, you will always walk.
Fine, you can make allowances if it’s pouring with rain, but when the weather is dry you should walk everywhere within this time limit. This will stop you from hopping in the car and driving five minutes to the shops. You get into the habit of walking when it makes sense, helping you add an extra few thousand steps per day.
Get an electric car
Right, this sounds like an absurd suggestion, but hear me out. Electric cars don’t have the same range as petrol cars, so they force you to drive less often. You’ll stop taking the car out for short trips here and there and begin walking more often. Sites like Edmunds sell electric cars all the time and will display the range. Unironically, you almost want a car without a stellar range so it encourages you to go out and walk.
Again, it feels like the stupidest idea ever, yet it makes sense! You still have a car when you need it, but it’s reserved for more important or longer journeys. Plus – and this has nothing to do with walking but is a nice bonus – you reduce your carbon footprint.
Think about getting a pet dog
Okay fine, an electric car is a fairly substantial purchase and you may not need one right now. Instead, how about getting a pet dog?
Dogs are excellent because you need to walk them so they literally force you to go out every single day. If you can’t afford a dog – or you’re not allowed one due to your current living conditions – maybe think about becoming a part-time dog walker. You get the benefit of walking dogs without actually owning any.
I said these three ideas were quirky, but they definitely get you walking! Your step count will go through the roof and you can start reaping the rewards of a healthier life.
