Woman Shares Daily Walking ‘Routine’ To Get 15,000 Steps In Every Day

How many steps do you do on average each day? Sometimes it can be hard to reach the recommended 10,000 daily step count as our chaotic lives and work stresses often get in the way.

This is something that Emily Solar is keen to avoid, as she’s created a dedicated routine to help her get at least 15,000 steps in every day. The 30-year-old starts her day by waking up at 5.30 a.m. and heading out for an hour-long walk to get her day started off on the right foot.

Solar, from Los Angeles, California, told Newsweek that going out for a walk first thing in the morning is her “favorite way to start the day,” as it vastly improves her mood.

After doing around 7,000 to 10,000 steps before starting work, Solar then does a 30-minute walk after lunch, which is around 3,000 to 5,000 steps, and then another 30 minutes after dinner.

“When I switched to remote work and moved to California, the weather was so nice, and my schedule was so much more flexible that it just felt natural to walk more,” Solar continued. “I honestly just really enjoy walking and what it does for my mood and body.

“I definitely feel better on days I walk than days I don’t. Waking up early and getting in a morning walk has been the easiest way to increase my step count. My morning walk is to the coffee shop, my lunchtime walk is usually an errand I need to run, and my evening walk is with my husband to spend some quality time together.”

10,000 a Day To Keep the Doctor Away

Although 10,000 steps is often considered the best goal for a healthy and active lifestyle, the Mayo Clinic notes that the average American does around 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 miles.

But for anyone who wants to increase their daily step count, the Mayo Clinic suggests working up incrementally towards the target of 10,000 steps, as this will make it more manageable. By gradually adding around 1,000 extra steps into your day, that target will soon become achievable.

In a recent Newsweek article, one scientist said he found maximal risk reductions for mortality to occur at 8,800 steps per day.

The benefits include a reduced risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. In order to reach that goal, you can put on your sneakers and take the dog out, listen to some music for motivation, go walking with other people, schedule walks into your day, and take the stairs rather than the elevator.

The Social Media Reaction

Since Solar discovered how beneficial walking is for her mental well-being, she started sharing her tips and schedule on TikTok (@emilyksolar) to encourage others to give it a try. Her followers love her content, but one video in particular about how she manages to walk 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day has been viewed more than 80,400 times and gained over 3,500 likes.

“My goal is typically 15,000 steps, but I average around 17,000. I don’t hit it every single day and I don’t stress when I don’t. It’s supposed to be fun, and I don’t like to be too strict with anything health or fitness related. For me that’s not healthy, and life is about balance,” Solar told Newsweek.

She has loved sharing her routine online and engaging with other people about the benefits of a simple walk. Many people have even reached out to tell her that she “inspired them to get into a walking routine” too, which she’s loved seeing.

Solar continued: “I get some people saying it’s not realistic for those with commutes or kids, which is understandable. When I was working and commuting, I was doing closer to 10,000 steps as opposed to 15,000 to 20,000. When I went remote, my flexible schedule allowed me to bump it up. While this amount of walking may not be realistic for everyone, something is always better than nothing.”

With over 120 comments on the viral TikTok post, many social media users applauded Solar’s dedication to hit her daily target. One person commented: “Yessss getting in a lot of steps in the morning.”

Another TikToker wrote: “This would be great if it wasn’t 10 degrees.”

Another comment reads: “Love walking & getting steps in the morning.”

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