How to Sidestep Depression #1064

Did you know that scientists have identified a threshold for your step count under which you make yourself more vulnerable for anxiety and depression?

Yep.

It’s nuts.

Check this out.

In Kelly McGonigal’s FANTASTIC (!) new book called The Joy of Movement she tells us: “The average daily step count required to induce feelings of anxiety and depression and decrease satisfaction with life is 5,649. The typical American takes 4,774 steps per day. Across the globe, the average is 4,961.”

YIKES! 😲

Let’s repeat that.

The average daily step count required to induce feelings of anxiety and depression (and decrease satisfaction with life) is 5,649. (Gotta love that precision, eh? 🤓)

And…

The typical American falls BELOW that threshold at 4,774 steps per day. While the average human across the globe ALSO falls BELOW that threshold at 4,961 steps.

All of which begs the question: How many steps are YOU getting on average per day?!

(For curious souls, I target 11,000+ steps per day and my Suunto watch tells me that my average over the last 7 days is 14,298.)

Note1: This is one of those times when it’s really wise to do a little measuring. As per our +1 on Want to Improve? Measure!, simply using a pedometer increases step counts by a MILE.

Note2: I didn’t know about the fact that scientists actually identified a step threshold (!) for depression when we set our baseline target of 10,000 steps a day for our Heroic Coaches but now I’m even more bullish on the importance of bringing attention to this simple measure of movement!

And…

That’s Today’s +1.

Let’s sidestep depression and anxiety.

One step at a time.

TODAY.

+1👣 +1👣 +1👣