When you're trying to hit your step goal for the day, going for a short walk can be a great option. But if you don’t have a new trail, a new podcast to listen to, or enough time in the day, then a walk can seem less than ideal. 

Even though we’re all about that walk life here at Stridekick, sometimes you need a little more creativity to keep those steps coming consistently, especially on days when you're stuck inside, short on time, or just not in the mood.

So, if you’re looking for more ways to stay engaged and get a leg up in a Stridekick challenge, here are 10 fun, slightly random, but totally doable ways to rack up those steps without ever technically going for a walk.

1. Dance Like Nobody's Counting (But Your Step Tracker Is)

Put on your favorite hype playlist, crank the volume, and have yourself a solo dance party in the living room. Ten minutes of sliding to the left and criss-crossing can earn you hundreds of steps and an instant mood boost. Plus, the humiliation you’ll get when someone walks in on you is a character-building moment that everyone should experience at least once in their life.

2. Walk While You Wait

Waiting for your coffee to brew, microwave to beep, or your partner to finally choose a movie? (Please, not Die Hard again…) All of these are perfect times to get moving. March in place, sidestep side to side, or do mini laps around the kitchen island. Trust us, it works, and your partner will only think you’re a little crazy.

3. Pace During Phone Calls

Got a long call coming up? Skip the couch and pace around while you chat. It's the easiest multitasking move ever. And if important phone calls stress you out and make you pace anyway, even better! Plus, if it's a video call, then you’ll finally be able to give your coworkers an exciting tour of your home. Win-win!

4. Make Commercial Breaks Step Breaks

Tired of non-stop ads on TV? Now you can get tired in a different way, by exercising during the commercials! Challenge yourself to do laps around the living room during each ad break, or if you’re streaming, set a timer and take a step break between episodes. Your series-binge of Gilmore Girls can wait.

5. Set a Movement Alarm

Speaking of setting a timer, maybe take it up a notch with a whole alarm! Every hour, set a reminder to stand up and take at least 250 steps. That’s about 2 minutes of movement, or one song’s worth of dancing, strutting, or speed-marching through your kitchen like you're on a mission. Do you notice a pattern here? Most of these require you to embarrass yourself a little, and we should all probably be embracing that a bit more. Mainly, for the workouts, but also because it’s a little funny…

6. Turn Chores Into a Mini Workout

Need to do your laundry? Maybe add a few extra steps by making multiple trips instead of hauling everything at once. You’d be surprised how many chores require real exercise to complete. This might sound obvious, but cleaning your stairs requires you to actually climb some stairs!

7. Use the Bathroom on Another Floor (Even If Yours is Closer)

If you’ve got stairs in your house or workplace, this is your golden ticket to more steps. Skip the closest bathroom and opt for the one on a different flight. It’s like a tiny stair challenge every time nature calls. Caution: only do this one if it’s not an emergency. You don’t want to have to explain this to your boss!

8. Hide Things from Yourself On Purpose

Need the remote? Put it across the room. Want your phone? Leave it upstairs. Hungry? Good thing you hid all the snacks in the basement! Future you may be angry, but you’re basically building a step obstacle course, and the leaderboard will thank you.

9. Get Competitive with Errands

Similarly, you can give yourself an extra challenge in the real world too. Need to go grocery shopping or run errands? Park farther away on purpose. Skip the cart return lane and walk it all the way back. Let’s just hope the sun isn’t too hot that day…

10. Unleash the Power of Fidgeting

It may not seem like much, but little movements can count for a lot. Tapping your feet or casually marching in place can help you sneak in bonus steps throughout the day, and the daily effect it has on your health can really add up over time. Just make sure you’re not fidgeting so much that you get distracted… Wait, what was I writing about? Oh yeah, getting steps in! Sorry, I was too busy fidgeting…

Final Thoughts ✨

You don’t need a walking trail or perfect weather to hit your daily step goal, you just need a little creativity, and maybe a few “accidentally” misplaced remotes. By working more movement into the things you’re already doing, you’ll find those extra steps are easier to get than you thought.

Now go forth, be brave, and don’t be afraid to step sneakily! 🕵️‍♂️🕵️‍♂️🕵️‍♂️