Do you really need to take 10,000 steps a day? - Shannon Odell

Discover the benefits of walking, and how this simple exercise can positively impact the health of your body and brain.

--

For years, Jean Béliveau walked from country to country, with the goal of circumnavigating the globe on foot. While few people have the time or desire to walk such extreme lengths, research shows that adding even a modest amount of walking to your daily routine can dramatically improve your health. So, what exactly happens to your body when you increase your step count? Shannon Odell investigates.

Lesson by Shannon Odell, directed by Avi Ofer.

This video made possible in collaboration with Speed & Scale

A special thanks to James Sallis and Lawrence Frank who provided information and insights for the development of this video.

Support Our Non-Profit Mission
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Connect With Us
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------

Keep Learning
----------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------

Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Anthony Benedict, Karthik Balsubramanian, Annastasshia Ames, Amy Lopez, Vinh-Thuy Nguyen, Liz Candee, Ugur Doga Sezgin, Karmi Nguyen, John C. Vesey, Yelena Baykova, Nick Johnson, Carlos H. Costa, Jennifer Kurkoski, Ryan B Harvey, Akinola Emmanuel, Jose Arcadio Valdes Franco, Sebastiaan Vleugels, Karl Laius, JY Kang, Abhishek Goel, Heidi Stolt, Nicole Sund, Karlee Finch, Mario Mejia, Denise A Pitts, Doug Henry, Keven Webb, Mihai Sandu, Deepak Iyer, Javid Gozalov, Kyanta Yap, Rebecca Reineke, William Biersdorf, Patricia Alves Panagides, Yvette Mocete, Cyrus Garay, Samuel Barbas, LadyGeek, Marin Kovachev, Penelope Misquitta, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Hoai Nam Tran, Kack-Kyun Kim, Michael Braun-Boghos, zjweele13, Anna-Pitschna Kunz, and Edla Paniguel.

[whoeveriamiam]

Daily walks every evening pulled me out of my depression. Sometimes it was extremely hard to make myself go outside but i kept forcing myself to do so

[Gamerboy_Hunter]

To anyone who's suffering depression, anxiety, insomnia and other mental health problems, you are not alone. I feel you. You are so brave. You are doing so well. I'm proud of you. I'm sending you a virtual hug ❤ For me, it wasn’t therapy or meds that helped the most — it was reconnecting with myself. I started using the exercises in Shift Your Mind by Alexander Brooks, and it made me feel human again. The anxiety that used to control my whole day barely shows up now! 🙏❤

[ramirocantu]

I’m a UPS delivery driver. Walk around 10-18k steps a day depending on the day. We tell each other we get paid to workout. It’s a helpful mentality to get through the tougher days

[periphron]

I used to be an avid walker until I was crippled at 53 with a late diagnosis of rather advanced multiple sclerosis, and 10, 000 steps seems like a dream to me now, but I have clawed my way up to 2500 and sometimes top 3000. Thank you for this inspiration to keep moving.

[isabelstokes]

I'm a 68 year old lady and I walk around one to two hours a day. I love it. I can't imagine my life without it.

[grnyqwm]

my grandfather is 107y old, his doctors were shocked that he was fit and healthy and disease free at his old age. He lived his life walking miles and walking between cities and his diet was balanced and simple.

[amireerbaker]

Brisk walks literally make me feel alive. It's therapeutic. Makes me grateful for all ten toes, my feet, and both my legs. 🙏🏾 stuff ppl don't really think about.

[JiannaSandoval]

Posting this when people are starting their resolutions. I see you, TED-Ed 🏃‍♀️

[PirateOfTheNorth]

I’m grateful for my dog for keeping me fit

[joyl]

Glad I live in The Netherlands! Walking and cycling everywhere feels great.

[tallgal-]

Up until the last 6 months I hated walking. Morbidly obese, I huffed and puffed even on short walks and had to rest every couple of minutes. I also fractured a vertebra in my lower back, which limited my ability to stand straight. After embarking on a weight loss program, which included a nerve-blocking back surgery, weight loss surgery and walking poles, I’m up to a mile a day and have dropped 60 pounds. When it gets below freezing I have to go to the gym instead, but walking outdoors has become my favorite exercise!! Thanks so much for this inspiring and encouraging video ❤

[bikingbuggy]

People sadly underestimate the true power that any regular exercise has on depression. Doesn’t make it just all go away but it helps you deal with it a lot better. Believe me, it has worked better for me than any antidepressants ever have.

[johnjackson-udmn]

Lol, I literally was just fighting with myself If I should take a walk to deal with this depression. Grabbed my phone, because I was trying to come up with an excuse no to walk, then this video popped up in my feed. Thanks TED ! I'm going to go for that walk now.

[froggythehobbit]

When I was little I always paced and walked around because I am autistic and it was a way of self-soothing and regulating, now as a 19 year old I still walk every day and I listen to music and daydream. I can do that for hours at a time, I have to remind myself to rest. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed and helps me cope with the world around me

[christinaduffy]

I have walked every day since January 2022. It’s a habit I am so proud of. Haven’t lost a pound but I’m happier

[peak__a__chu__]

started the year by finally joining my dad in his daily early morning walks! so cute bc whenever we pass by his buddies in their morning exercise, he always says "look! I have a buddy now!"

[porks]

10, 000 steps a day cured my insomnia and depression, if you deal with insomnia, please do this.

[UshnishChatterjee]

I guess this topic, like many others, is more nuanced than we think. It's so tragic that many cities decided to prioritize motor vehicles over walkability...

[_Longwinded]

Walking is a really really really important part of life. The great thing is, it's free. I'm kind of addicted to walking and trust me once you walk daily some 10k steps for a month continuously, you will feel irritated if you don't get a walk daily. It has a plethora of health benefits. After a meal, it's very very important to walk. Walking also makes you patience.

[liliabenavides]

I talk to myself when I walk. I love it. Feel blessed every time I get to walk. Gives me a sense of freedom.