Struggling to reach your daily step goal without leaving home? Nutritionist Reet Kaur shares a simple and effective way to achieve 10,000 steps in just one hour using a fun indoor routine. You don’t need long walks outdoors or hours on a treadmill but just a mix of planned movements and energetic exercises can help you hit your target. In her Instagram post on 3 November, Reet, a weight loss expert and nutritionist, outlined a detailed step-by-step routine that includes marching, step-ups, dancing, lunges, and stair climbing. With this structured 60-minute plan, anyone can make reaching 10k steps at home achievable, enjoyable, and a sustainable part of their daily fitness routine.

Importance of walking 10,000 steps a day

The widely recommended 10,000 steps per day goal promotes cardiovascular health, aids in weight management, and improves overall well-being. Many people struggle to reach this benchmark, especially during busy schedules or in inclement weather. Indoor step routines provide a practical and safe alternative, allowing you to stay active while at home.Reet explains, “To hit 10,000 steps at home in one hour, you need to average around 167 steps per minute.

It may sound challenging, but with the right combination of exercises and short intervals, you can make it fun and achievable.”

Warm up: Prepare your muscles and heart for a 10,000-step workout

Before starting the main routine, warming up is essential to prevent injury and prepare your muscles. Reet recommends the following simple warm-up exercises:

• March in place to get your legs moving and your heart rate up
• Arm swings with light side steps to loosen your shoulders and increase mobility

This warm-up should take approximately 5 minutes, helping you accumulate around 500 steps before diving into the more intensive exercises.

Main indoor routine to hit 10,000 steps (50 minutes)

To avoid boredom and maintain momentum, Reet suggests alternating exercises every 5–10 minutes. Here’s the full indoor routine broken down for optimal results:High-knee marching or jogging in place (5–10 Minutes)Pump your arms and stay light on your feet to increase your step count quickly. This exercise can add around 1,200–1,500 steps to your total.Step-ups on a stair or chair (5 Minutes)Use a sturdy stair or chair, alternating legs and keeping a steady pace. Step-ups are excellent for leg strength and can add 600–800 steps.Dance or zumba-style freestyle (10 Minutes)Play your favourite upbeat music and move freely. Fast-paced dancing can generate 1,500+ steps while keeping the routine enjoyable.Walk-and-lunge combo (5 Minutes)Walk ten steps, then perform five lunges. Repeat across the room to strengthen your lower body and add about 500 steps.Side steps with skater jumps (5 Minutes)Combine wide side steps with light hops to work your legs and core. This exercise contributes roughly 800 steps.Stair climbing or marching intervals (10 Minutes)Perform fast stair climbs or power marches to significantly boost your step count. This segment can add up to 2,000 steps in 10 minutes.Reet emphasises alternating exercises such as step-ups, dance, and marching intervals to make the routine engaging while keeping your step goal achievable.Cool down and stretch (5 Minutes)After completing the high-intensity routine, cooling down is vital to help your muscles recover. Recommended cool-down activities include:

• Light walking in place
• Deep breathing exercises
• Gentle stretching

This final 5-minute segment adds another 500 steps and ensures your body transitions smoothly from activity to rest.

Tips to make hitting 10,000 steps fun at home

Reet Kaur suggests a few simple strategies to stay motivated and make indoor steps enjoyable:

• Play your favourite music to energise your routine
• Alternate between different moves to prevent monotony
• Use short intervals to keep the session dynamic

By following these tips, reaching 10,000 steps in an hour can feel effortless, and you’ll enjoy the process rather than viewing it as a chore.