It’s 11.30am, and I’ve just finished my first long task of the day. Instead of treating myself to a 10-minute Instagram scroll or a doom-dive into the same 10 tweets I saw at the start of the day, I’m pacing the floor of my tiny living room to 80s bangers, like one of the women from my mum’s Zumba class. All I’m doing is walking – I’ve just done 1,000 steps – but I’m aiming for another 500 before I sit back down and resume work.

Between soft hiking and treadmill desks, walking continues to enjoy its moment in the sun – thanks to the fact that it’s largely free, accessible and can improve our physical and mental health. But while I might start every day with a walk and head out for lunchtime strolls, I’m incredibly jealous of anyone who’s able to work on the move. Stylist’s own Ellen Scott, for example, can often be found editing while clocking up thousands of steps on her WalkingPad.  

It was while I was sulking about my lack of a treadmill that I came across a bunch of walking workouts on YouTube. Among the treadmill dances and Justin Beiber videos, I found a workout that promised 3,000 steps in just 25 minutes – no equipment or previous fitness experience required.

Within five minutes, I had to take off my hoodie. I’m not sweating, but I’m definitely not chilly anymore. My coffee’s gone cold and I’m feeling more supple the more I step. After 10 minutes and 1,500 steps to Whitney Houston, I decided to stop and go back to my laptop – saving the next video for a later break.

By the end of the working day, I’ve racked up 3,000 steps next to my kitchen table. That’s 3,000 steps done without leaving the room, lacing up my trainers or taking a proper break. By the time dinner rolls around, I’ve clocked over 10,000 steps without really thinking about it (meaning that I don’t have to be that person who stomps around the flat at 10pm trying to reach the golden number). 

There are loads of these walking workouts on YouTube, but I chose one that stressed its simplicity and accessibility. There are only a handful of different steps, like walking forwards and backwards, a sidestep and a kind of shimmy. Halfway through, the instructor gets you to add in a few arm movements (like clapping your arms above your head, pushing the air in front of you and stretching diagonally in a kind of Night Fever-style move).

Once you’ve got those moves memorised, you can almost do the workout with your eyes closed. It’s total brain off, move-don’t-think territory – and that’s perfect for a microbreak. You can head back to your desk feeling energised and calm, without the sweat or admin of working out ‘properly’ or going outside. In fact, I’ve been doing the same video over a couple of days now – 10 minutes of stepping here and there, any time I need a stretch or I’m feeling restless.  

I’m not saying that these walking workouts should take the place of getting out into nature, going for a run or doing a weights session. I still believe that you can’t beat walking outdoors for 30 minutes at lunch or choosing a road run over the treadmill, but stepping to the music has to be a more positive distraction than scrolling on social media or getting lost in depressing news. 

You need to do more vigorous exercise to really boost your cardio health and you definitely can’t rely on only doing 3,000 steps a day, but something is always better than nothing. And in my case, these workouts are brilliant for brushing off the mid-morning cobwebs and cutting the procrastination cycle. 

Images: Getty