Should you aim for 10,000 steps a day?

March, 2023

Walking is an effective low impact exercise that can be very beneficial to your health.

However, should we aim to walk 10,000 steps a day?

This number is often set as a target for many people, but is there anything to back this up? Why should we aim to walk 10,000 steps a day and not 6000 or 8000?

In this months’ blog, I’m going to explore how this 10,000 steps figure came about and if it provides substantial benefits over walking shorter distances.

Why 10,000 steps?

So, the 10,000 steps number basically appeared due to a pedometer called “Manpo-kei”, released by Japanese company Yamasa Tokei Keiki Co., Ltd in the 1960s. Manpo means 10,000 steps.

Since then, countless people have been trying to reach this number on a daily basis. In fact, it has become a common goal for most people who want to be more active.

Even though the 10k number was essentially a marketing technique, there is some merit in the exercise benefits. However, 10,000 isn’t the be all and end all.

Walking is as good as any exercise

In my opinion, walking can be as good as any other form of exercise.

While it often doesn’t get the headlines as other high-intensity workouts, walking has many health benefits. A brisk walk between 30 and 60 minutes a day can have a positive impact on your body and mind.

Not only is it good for you physically including cardiovascular health, bone strengthening, and also it can help you to lose weight, walking is a great way to boost your mental health.

Walking is also a way to boost your immune system.

Should you aim for 10,000 steps a day?

10,000 steps equates to roughly 5 miles. This is an average distance as it does depend on how you walk.

So, is 10,000 steps a day the magic number?

There are quite a few studies out there that show the benefits of walking and 10,000 steps isn’t necessarily the target to aim for. Although, when it comes to most forms of exercise, doing a little bit more is generally a good thing.

Some research has shown that between 7000 – 8000 steps is enough to achieve some noticeable health benefits.

For many people finding the time every day to complete 10,000 steps is challenging, but knock a few thousand off the number, and suddenly it becomes a little bit more achievable.

The key thing for me is that any exercise is better than no exercise. Walking 7,000 or 8,000 steps a day will have health benefits and even though it isn’t the magic 10k number, it is still an achievement.

Don’t feel discouraged if you can’t hit a 10k target everyday due to either fitness issues or a busy lifestyle. If you are hoping to get your walking shoes on and start feeling the benefits of being outdoors, aim a little lower because it will still positively impact your physical and mental wellbeing.

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