It’s time to put a number on your actual daily movement and the easiest way to do this is by counting your daily steps via a free app on your phone. There are lots of ways to track your daily steps and progress in increasing them.

You can also buy an inexpensive, wearable fitness device (these will monitor much more than your steps) or you can download free, very accurate apps on your android or iphone. Some other, well-tested and reviewed (and free!) apps include GoogleFit, MyFitnessPal,  ActivityTracker and Fitbit have a free app without having to buy a Fitbit. Happy tracking!

Now keep your phone on you as you move around today and see how many steps you’ve managed.

You’re aiming to increase your daily steps by a minimum of 10% a week, or a maximum of 20%. If you start at 2,000 and add 200 steps per day each week that’s’ great. If you’re at 4,000 steps already then getting up to 4,400 in this week is also great. While 8,000 steps a day is considered optimal what’s much more important is to make sustainable improvements as you ‘activate’ your lifestyle.