We spend a large amount of our day sitting at our desks, meetings, or commuting, and it is easy for movement to take a backseat. What if walking could have a significant impact on how we feel and perform each day? Aiming for 10,000 steps a day is not just about fitness: it is about boosting energy, reducing stress, and improving focus throughout your day. By turning walking into a daily habit, you are not only supporting your physical health and longevity but also creating a clearer mind to show up at your best both inside and out.
For years, 10,000 steps a day has been the gold standard for daily activity and for good reason. Hitting this goal consistently offers meaningful rewards that go far beyond just movement. The most immediate benefit is a greater caloric burn. You can burn anywhere from 400-600 calories, dependent on body weight, walking speed, and terrain. That is before the additional calories you will burn throughout your day. Beyond calorie burn, walking 10,000 steps a day enhances your cardiovascular health, which becomes more important as you age to help reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Another key factor as we get older is the natural decline in metabolism. While the decrease is inevitable, consistent physical activity, especially hitting the 10,000-step goal consistently, can help slow the rate of decline and improve your body’s ability to convert food into energy. While on the topic of energy, walking regularly will improve your mental clarity and boost your mood, offering a daily dose of “feel good” and focus. Additionally, regular walking at this volume and intensity improves sleep quality, helping you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up more refreshed.
In addition to the immediate rewards as mentioned above, consistently walking 10,000 steps will play a huge role in long-term health and wellness. One of the most impactful being weight management. Walking at this volume will help maintain a healthy body weight through increased caloric expenditure and improved metabolism. This avenue of movement is a low-impact way to stay active without the intensity of high-impact workouts. Walking also plays a key role in supporting cardiovascular health by helping to lower blood pressure and improve circulation. Mentally, the act of walking can reduce anxiety, reduce symptoms of depression, and promote a sense of calm. These benefits are valuable in today’s fast-paced world, where stress and burnout are becoming the new normal. Furthermore, walking contributes to longevity by reducing chronic diseases and supporting overall health, improving quality of life.
Reaching 10,000 steps a day is easier said than done but here are four helpful tips:
- Break it up throughout your day: start with a morning walk, take movement breaks between meetings and tasks, and wind down with an evening stroll.
- Park farther from the entrance to the store or work.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Make it social: invite a coworker for a walking meeting, join a walking group, or walk with your family to start or end your day. Setting clear, achievable goals is key.
Walking enhances functional fitness by improving balance, coordination, and joint mobility, which will help you stay independent and active. The immediate and long-term effects of this metric weighed against the low risks make it simple: choose movement, prioritize your health, and commit to yourself. Lace up your shoes, take the long way, and embrace the journey. The path to better health happens one step at a time.

Practicing gratitude and managing your time can also reduce stress. Taking time to reflect on what you’re thankful for helps redirect focus away from worry and negativity. Try keeping a gratitude journal or sharing what you appreciate with family and friends during holiday gatherings. Meanwhile, avoid overcommitting yourself. The season can fill up quickly, and saying “yes” to everything can lead to burnout. Plan your schedule thoughtfully, prioritize what matters most, and leave room for rest, self-care, and flexibility.
Arthritis is not a sign that you are aging; rather, it is a testament to the vibrant life you have led and all the incredible things your body has accomplished for you! Just imagine the tales your joints could share. Now, it is time to embrace a new narrative for this season of your life, embracing those little creaks. By making simple adjustments to your exercise and wellness regime, you can stay active, strong, mobile, and happy. Here is what you can do to keep your joints healthy as you age. 

Improving and maintaining your balance is central to help prevent falls and avoid injury. There are many ways to enhance your current level of balance, whether it be getting your daily steps in by walking, taking weekly chair or standing yoga classes, or by strengthening your stability muscles to help keep your body standing strong. Balance is much more than simply standing on one leg. Consider this 3-step approach to improve your balance potential.
Flexibility is often overlooked in fitness training, but Jabbar Harris another one of our dedicated fitness specialists knew just how powerful it could be. He led the flexibility portion of the superpowers program and guided residents through regular stretching routines designed to safely increase their range of motion, and comfort. One of his participants, Olivia Q., experienced dramatic improvements going from four inches short of her toes to reaching two inches past them - that's a 150% increase in flexibility! She shared with Jabbar that performing the stretches most days of the week not only improved her flexibility but also alleviated soreness in her lower back! Olivia's lower back discomfort went from a self reported “seven” to a “three”. Since completing the Superpowers program, Olivia has continued to incorporate stretching into her daily routine to maintain her new superpower.
Mindfulness isn’t just a way to hit pause on a busy mind; it’s a tool that helps you get out of your head and into the present moment. Not only does it improve focus and creativity, but the more mindful we are, the better we handle life's challenges.
As we age, physicians and specialty doctors will talk to you about exercise and eating a well-balanced diet. We sometimes forget that brain health is just as important. Concentration on moving or getting 30 minutes of exercise per day, and strength training 2-3x a week, but is there any emphasis on brain exercises? If so, what does it look like? Are your residents participating in an craft or art? Are they doing word or cross word puzzles, easy math, or reading aloud? Are they resting their mind, or meditating?
After spending many years in the fitness industry, I often find myself talking about nutrition and how important it is to stay hydrated. A question I hear a lot is, "Am I drinking enough water?" Many people think they are, but the truth is, a lot of them aren't. Those who tend to skimp on water usually say they don't want to keep getting up at night or they just don't like water that much.
Every 1600 meters on the row machine is 1 mile towards your goal! If you have never used a row machine before, here are some quick tips to get you started on your journey: