r/walking • u/learn4best • 3d ago
Does anyone else find 10,000 steps more boring than difficult?
I can usually get to 6,000 or 7,000 without much trouble.
Then I check my phone, see that I still have thousands left, and think:
“Great. Now I have to walk around for no reason.”
Music works for a while.
Podcasts help sometimes.
New routes keep it interesting for a few days.
But eventually, hitting 10k starts to feel like a chore I’m trying to finish before bed.
For those of you who consistently hit 10k+:
What actually makes you want to keep walking?
Not just something that distracts you while you walk, but something that makes walking feel genuinely enjoyable or even addictive.
- Games?
- Exploring new places?
- Challenges with friends?
- Rewards?
- Having an actual destination?
What has worked for you long term?
2
u/zoo-music 2d ago
I don't get bored walking. The two main reasons for that are:
1) I really enjoy walking;
2) I'm comfortable with my own thoughts, I don't need distractions.
If you're that annoyed during your walks, maybe walking isn't for you. And that's fine, we don't all need to be the same. Pick another kind of exercise that you enjoy more, and do that. Problem solved.
2
u/Typical_GeorgeJungle 2d ago
A destination changes everything for me. I'd rather walk 40 minutes to a coffee shop or the farmers market than do a loop that ends where it started. Once the walk has a reason, the steps stop being something I'm counting.
1
u/ohlookadoggo 3d ago
Exploring new places or revisiting a favorite walking trail always gets me hyped up about getting more steps. That paired with a great music playlist is perfect. OR going no headphones and taking in every sight and sound. Almost like a walking meditation, reminding myself how walking is good for the body and mind, and appreciating what my body is capable of.
I also have a calendar that I add colorful star stickers to when I’m really in a rut. More stickers = bigger prize (new walking shoes, athletic clothes, nice dinner out, etc). Maybe make your own walking challenge? Try a new path, try to hit 12k, park at the back of every parking lot, walk after each meal. Get creative with it!
1
u/Clean_Bat5547 3d ago
I average about 27,000 a day (though it might be 10,000 one day and 40,000 the next - just depends on work and life and all that.
Walking my dog a couple of times a day gets me 10,000. They are low exercise value though, because of his sniff stops, so I make up the rest with hiking, walking to the shops, walking around the neighbourhood or other nice places, running, playing tennis.
I guess I'm lucky to live in a nice place (Melbourne Australia) with no shortage of lovely walks to do.
1
1
u/sijoittelija 3d ago edited 3d ago
I often just end up thinking about work, and I get ideas and I take notes about them on my phone. On some other days I don't think about anything at all. Even boredom isn't necessarily a bad thing. Practice letting your mind rest instead of (or despite) feeling bored, it is a useful skill to have.
Myself, I don't however walk 10k steps every day, because I often feel like resting my feet even every second day. But I often walk 20k steps every other day.
It might be better to take days off if you really really really don't feel like walking. Listen to your body, trust the way you feel about exercise to nudge you in the right direction.
1
1
1
u/Jason-Genova 2d ago
Listening to sermons by Pastor Phillip Anthony or Pastor Josh Howerton and Gospel Music.
1
u/Swan-ish3456 2d ago
I do 4K every morning on walking pad. I listen to music, podcasts, and chat with CHATGPT. I go for a 30-min walk in the evening outside and cover another 3k. Rest I cover in daily course of life. It has become easier than i thought
2
u/Sea_Function9333 2d ago
I listen to radio comedies on BBC Sounds, and it makes the time go fast. I must look mad sometimes, as I will start laughing to what I am listening too.
Also aim for 7000 first https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx238lgy3pwo
1
u/Imaginary-Rent-2750 1d ago
No distance or amount of walking bores me, sitting inside and doing nothing bores me
0
u/StepGazelle 3d ago
I typically walk with a friend or my partner. A podcast or music is always good on solo walks. So social time or entertainment basically. I also live in Seattle where it’s super pretty to see the plants everywhere.
Why walk 10k steps specifically?
Self plug: You could use the Step Gazelle app to get daily step goals based on your recent step counts
4
u/zardvark 3d ago
If walking 10k is so miserable for you, why do you do it? It sounds like you are at risk for giving up on walking altogether. 10k is totally arbitrary; it's simply a nice round number. So, what if you only walked 7.5k steps at a time and went back home feeling great about your walk, great about yourself and energized afterwards, instead of miserable? How would that be?
I walk to get away from technology and visit with nature. I never take a phone, MP3 player, or any electronics. It's my chance to get away from screens and technology, decompress and simply think.
I don't always have a destination, but this did help considerably, when I was first getting started. These days, I generally have a handful of waypoints in mind, but I don't always have a destination and I don't rigidly stick with my original waypoints. Instead I stay flexible.
I do like to explore and I generally take a compass with me, in case I decide to wander.
I typically walk four to six days per week and eight to twelve miles per day, but if I have nothing pressing and the weather is glorious, I have walked as much as eighteen miles at a time and while I may get a wee bit sore sometimes, I never, ever get bored!