I love to walk, cross-country ski or bike. It invigorates me physically and mentally. Thus, I found it interesting that, according to this October 2025 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, longer walks might provide more benefits than shorter ones at the same step counts.

But be careful drawing this conclusion because the results show correlation, not causation. Furthermore, the study focused on suboptimally active adults with step counts at 8000 or less per day. I am satisfied only by achieving at least 10,000 steps in a day.

I think a good new year’s resolution is to increase your step count per day by taking longer walks. However, on days when you cannot spare much time, try taking a number of short walks and do so a bit faster.

If you also like to walk and/or are resolved to do so this new year of 2026, see today’s post by RTÉ—the website of Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland’s National Public Service Media—on 5 ways to make your daily walk more beneficial in 2026.

Get a move on!