Christmas is right around the corner! I’m sure most of you have already been sucked into the busiest time of the year. With Christmas shopping, holiday planning, and summer vacation for kids, most people tend to lose focus on their health as planning for Christmas becomes the priority. Let’s take a moment to refocus and prioritise health over the ‘silly season’.
How can you prioritise your health when you have so much to do? Well, we’ve got your back! Let us introduce you to the daily action which is a phenomena that has been taking the health and fitness community by the storm.
What is the most impactful action I can take for my health?
You probably have heard about daily 10k steps a day which is trending amongst the health and fitness community. Let me tell you, they are trending for a reason! 10k steps is also known as Manpo-Kei which originated in Japan to promote fitness and decrease obesity. The phenomena increased in popularity in 1964 AD in Japan during the Tokyo Olympics and gradually gained significant popularity in the fitness community all over the world. It has been a standard goal for health-conscious people.
Many studies have been conducted to test the health benefits and it’s been proven to be effective. For instance, a study done by The University of Queensland conducted a study to prove the benefits and it was proven successful for the participants who completed the daily 10k steps. Furthermore, another study found that individuals with type-2 diabetes improved glycaemic control which is important in preventing long-term diabetes complications.
Let’s talk about the health benefits of the daily 10k steps
We need to understand that this activity is not only about improving health, it is also about preventing disease, illness and degeneration. Whether you are on a journey to motherhood or improving gut health, or general wellbeing, I know you will love the benefits involved:
- Less cardiovascular disease
- Promotes weight loss
- Strengthens lungs and bones
- Boosts your energy levels
- Improves sleep
- Improves blood pressure
- Stabilises blood glucose
- Decreases possibility of dementia by 50%
- Clears mind which helps with decreasing anxiety and depression
- Improves concentration
I love it! But I need some motivation.
I know what you are thinking. “So, how can I manage daily 10k steps during the busiest time of the year?”
Here are 12 easy ways you can keep up the daily 10k steps:
- Christmas Shopping: What takes the most of your time during this busy time of the year? Shopping! You probably run around shopping for everything from gifts to groceries. So, this time ditch the online shopping, make that list and do physical shopping! Online shopping is convenient and easy but physical shopping will help you gain those daily 10k steps.
- Family Time: You probably want to spend some time with your family during the holidays. Spend time with your family by taking a walk to the park, it’s a perfect time to bond with them and you can even take your furry friends!
- Park further away from the entrance: Whether you're going to work or to the shops, or your acupuncture appointment park further away. It might not look like a significant step but a little goes a long way. It will encourage you to take more steps.
- Take the stairs: Always try to take the stairs instead of the elevator or the lift wherever you can.
- Take a post-meal walk: After dinner, take a small walk (please make sure to take a sufficient break between walking and eating to avoid stitches). Not only, it increases your steps but is great for digestion as well.
- Plan it: Make sure to always create a window in your day for your walking. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. So, plan ahead to ensure a specific time you’d be walking.
- Catch up with your friends: Catch up with your friends by either walking together or walking to the place you’re meeting them.
- Set a goal: You might be new to the daily 10k steps so don’t be hard on yourself by trying to take 10k steps on your first day. Make a gradual increase to the amount of your steps. Set a goal for each week.
- Phone Call Walk: Take a walk during one of your business calls or social calls.
- Use a step tracker: Track your steps and goals to keep you accountable. Many modern smartphones already have a built-in steps tracker. There are also smartwatches which have the same function.
- Take extra steps: After shopping, don’t try to take everything at once, try to make multiple trips from the car to your house.
- Podcasts: Supercharge your mind with a healthy podcast while you walk, this reinforces your healthy lifestyle and keeps you focused on reaching your health goals.
These are the simple and also fun ways to increase your steps.This holiday season, keep the active healthy lifestyle while enjoying the holidays with your friends and family. Remember that every step counts and also to have fun.
So what did we learn?
Health is the most important thing, always. And it is the thing that is neglected during the Christmas season. Enough! Let’s make a pact to put YOU first and create ONE single focus over the next 6 weeks that will not only keep you healthy but create a positive habit for life for you and your growing family.
If you put your mind to it, anything is possible!
Are you in? Send us a line via hello@naturalharmonytcm.com.au and say “I’m in for 10K steps a day for 6 weeks” and we will invite you to our accountability group.
Signing off,
Kreesala
ONA Receptionist
