What's your best tip to get extra steps?

[WavyDavey]

Just by changing our daily routines slightly, we can add more steps to our daily total. I'll start with my tip:

When driving to a store, select a parking spot farthest away from the store, and enjoy some extra steps. Very often I see people circling parking lots looking for the closest spot to park. But by parking on the far side of the lot, there are more spaces, and it actually makes it easier on the way out because there's less traffic to contend with. So park far, and enjoy the walk to and from the store.

[Odyssey13]

Good idea @WavyDavey ! When I push a cart in a store, it doesn't see all my steps, so I park the cart to get in some extra steps. When putting up groceries or laundry, make as many trips possible to get the job done. I also leave my cup in the kitchen, so when I want a drink of water, I have to get up and move. Lots of ways for us to move more, if we just get up and do it! Thanks @WavyDavey 

[MyBMI]

Don't outsource your life or you'll end up outsourcing your health. This comment is generally not for the people in this community because I think we have a clue about things but I want to say it anyway.

Slowly through the last 2 generations we have outsourced our lives. We have made things easier for ourselves and people have gone for easier options without realising the long term implications.

Here's a list of the things we get others to do for us and thereby reduce our personal potential movement:

- cooking

- mowing lawns

- sweeping up

- cleaning windows

- vacuuming

- clothes washing

- making beds

- food deliveries to home

- using drive-thrus at fast food "restaurants"

- using cars instead of walking

- general cleaning

- car washing

- shopping

- using escalators & elevators

- stopping on escalators instead of walking up or down

- asking others to do things we are perfectly capable of doing ourselves

All of these things add up over time and make a difference.

I'm sure there's a ton more and others will come up with ideas I haven't thought about that I look forward to seeing.

[russsss]

@Odyssey13. as far as shopping carts,  with no arm motion we have no steps recorded however by making the "grocery shopping" experience more of a combat sport the problem is easily solved . first increase your speed (a lot) which will increase the steps recorded, next feel free to ram any cart in your path (the resulting impact will show up as a step) and finally running over anyone in your path also helps .   this approach to shopping also makes shopping a lot more fun and serves as a constructive method of of releasing pent up aggression and might be considered part of living mindfully.   

[WavyDavey]

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@russsss wrote:

@Odyssey13. as far as shopping carts,  with no arm motion we have no steps recorded however by making the "grocery shopping" experience more of a combat sport the problem is easily solved . first increase your speed (a lot) which will increase the steps recorded, next feel free to ram any cart in your path (the resulting impact will show up as a step) and finally running over anyone in your path also helps .   this approach to shopping also makes shopping a lot more fun and serves as a constructive method of of releasing pent up aggression and might be considered part of living mindfully.   

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Ah, the Mad Max Fury Road approach to shopping!

[Odyssey13]

@russsss  don't forget the one handed cart pushing where you are weaving about the aisles while dodging oncoming shoppers who are glued to their cell phones. Obstacle course and combat sport both at the same time. 

[KarminArmin]

Put some good music on and dance a song or two! In fact, I'm about to do that right now!

[Whyshoshoni]

I do the same, @KarminArmin! I call it ‘dancing in the kitchen’, because that’s where I do it.  It’s also a great diversion when after dinner snack thoughts are filling my head!  After 20 -60 minutes of dancing I usually no longer want that chocolate that was calling my name.

[russsss]

@Odyssey13  2 types of cell  users commonly found shopping ... 1 those walking aimlessly while staring at the device .... 2 those taking pics of a can of soup while standing in the middle of the aisle (these are usually males .   The 1st group pose a hazard mich the same as the average distracted driver, as for the 2nd group either they are seeking approval for the type of soup from someone OR they are taking snaps of the can so they can share the shopping experience with "friends" .   In any case eliminating 10 of them would result in you getting the "Darwin's helper" badge .  

Just trying to keep fitbit fun, one step at a time .