With women currently found to be walking 1,000 steps a day less than men, experts have offered some tips on getting your strides up.
A study using smartphone ‘accelerometers,’ a sensor that automatically records stepping motions, found that women manage 4,908 steps on average a day, compared to men who rack up 5,982.
Nutritionist, Cassandra Barns, suggested having a walking meeting, taking it out of the boardroom and into the fresh air. Not only will this get you moving, but the fresh air and extra movement can get the fresh ideas flowing by mixing up your environment.
“Exercise is a great stress reliever. Taking a walk aids in stimulating anti-anxiety effects, this helps to clear your thoughts and leaves you feeling more relaxed upon returning to the office,” she explained.
Be sure to get the timing right too as feeling exhausted after exercise can put you off getting active more often and it could be that you need to adjust the type of exercise you’re doing, depending on what time it is.
“To feel refreshed and revitalised, try energy forming exercises, such as running or aerobics in the morning and focus on milder activities later in the evening. Try a walk at the end of the day or a yoga session to calm your mind and stretch your muscles,” suggested Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading Nutritionist and author of Natural Solutions for Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Other tips include instead of emailing or instant messaging a colleague, walk over to their desk and speak to them, make sure your shoes fit properly as uncomfortable shoes will not encourage you to be on your feet more often, and team up with a friend to get fit. Opt for the stairs rather than the lift, reminding yourself to move more and maximise multitasking; brushing your teeth, chatting on the phone to a friend, or even sending a text can be a great opportunity to get pacing. Think about how you can add walking in to your regular routine.
