Keeping Fit with JeanneinDoha | How to Hit 10,000 Steps Each Day

As those of you who follow my Instagram stories will know, I exercise a lot. Whilst many of my workout routines are rigorous, I also strongly believe that general movement is key to staying fit and healthy. Walking is a great form of exercise and a good way to stay active if, for whatever reason, more strenuous activity isn't an option. Of course, strength training and cardiovascular exercise contribute to building one's fitness levels. But sometimes, it's important to just keep moving; I'm certain that my ~7 miles of walking each day help me stay in shape.

You've probably heard that you should aim to walk 10,000 steps per day. Many people I know find this target quite challenging, particularly whilst working long hours in Doha's summers. I usually average around 15,000 steps per day whether I'm working in Doha or Seoul, whether it's 45°C or -22°C outside. Here's how I do it.

Track accurately. In order to know how far you are walking, you need to track yourself accurately. I love my Fitbit. I wear it all the time: to the gym, to work, to cocktail parties. Everywhere. It's part of my arm and through it I have realized a) how much I walk b) how badly I sleep and that c) that my resting heart rate follows the cyclicality of my menstrual cycle. (How fascinating is the human body?)

Look for opportunities to walk throughout the day. Have 10 spare minutes in the morning? Walk around your building. Take the long way to the water cooler or the coffee shop when at work. Too hot to walk outside? Walk around your office building during a short break from work. Use stairs rather than escalators. Do you have a lunch break? If so, take it. Spend half of it eating and then go for a walk. Don't think, 'I can't walk' but think instead 'How can I get my steps in?' If you have a treadmill available close to you, you really have no excuse when it comes to getting in those steps in the face of inclement weather.

Pick a route (or two) that works and stick with it. Not all of us are blessed to live in gated compounds or on The Pearl. But we can all come up with routes that are (relatively) pleasant to walk along. Sure the sidewalk sometimes disappears in Doha (!) but there are green spaces such as Sheraton Park, Al Bidda Park or Aspire Park that one can walk in. Moreover, Doha is a pretty safe city. I've lived in Doha neighborhoods that weren't the most salubrious, but were perfectly safe. So go for an evening walk. 

Find non-traditional spaces to walk. You can walk through an air-conditioned (or in the case of Seoul winters - heated) mall. Do you have a long corridor in your apartment building? Put on a podcast, learn about the world and walk up and down that corridor.

No. You do have time. Think carefully when you say that you don't have time to complete even the simplest form of exercise. If you spend time watching TV or faffing on your phone, you have time to walk.

Don't be afraid of sweat. I wouldn't advise spending a lot of time walking around in Doha's blazing sun. However, my husband and I routinely go for evening walks even in the summer. Hydrate frequently whilst walking and shower after.

Now get off your phone or laptop and go for a walk!