Though 10,000 steps is actually an arbitrary number originating from a Japanese marketing campaign designed to encourage people to be more active, many experts suggest there’s still plenty of value in hitting a certain number each day: between 8,000 and 10,000 steps for those under sixty and 6,000 to 8,000 for those over.

However, there are a lot of reasons why getting your steps in may not feel easy. Maybe you live somewhere that isn’t conducive to neighborhood walks or gyms make you uncomfortable because you don’t feel good in your body. Or perhaps you’re simply introverted and want to work out without the risk of a fellow treadmiller striking up a conversation.

Luckily, there are countless ways to bring movement and exercise to your own home that don’t cost a lot of money.

Jump rope

In terms of the amount of equipment and storage space, it doesn’t get much more compact than a single jump rope. Though simple, this exercise tool can help you burn hundreds of calories depending on your weight and intensity. (As a bonus, you can reminisce about childhood while you use it.) Switch up your routine by doing double bounces, hopping on one foot, or, if you are feeling extra coordinated, crisscrossing the rope.

Be sure to ease into this workout, though, as it can easily lead to injury if you’re not used to the movement. If you’re new to jump-rope workouts, start at one to three times a week for up to five minutes per session and build up to longer durations. And if you don’t have the perimeter space to accommodate a moving rope, you can still mimic the movement without one.

Run a living room marathon

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, people had to get creative to get their exercise. Enter living room running, which went viral thanks to restless runners sharing their unconventional exercise paths on social media. Pan Shancu, an amateur marathon runner in Hangzhou, China, ran a whopping thirty-one miles just in his own living room. Find a room in your home that you can make into a mini track, and test it out. Using a pedometer or steps app to track your distance, see if you can run a cumulative half-marathon in a week. If you don’t have the space to run back and forth, stick to one spot and jog in place to get similar benefits.

Pace

We all know that person who wears a hole in the carpet as they walk back and forth while on their phone. It’s dizzying to watch, but they’re actually onto something! If you don’t want to run a living room marathon, take up pacing instead (phone optional). Try combining it with a podcast or audiobook to keep yourself entertained; research shows physical activity improves focus, retention, and memory.

Dance, dance, dance

If it’s been a long day and your brain needs a reprieve, press Play on that Beyoncé playlist and let all your worries dissolve into hip circles and rib cage isolations. This type of conscious, self-led dance has the added benefit of improving mental health, according to a 2019 study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. For something more structured, search YouTube for Zumba workouts, hip-hop routines, or general cardio dance workouts. You can even find tap dance warm-ups and routines if you are motivated by learning a new skill.

Put on an episode

Working out can be boring, and sometimes you may need a little help with motivation. Watching your favorite show can focus your attention on something more exciting to make the time go faster. Choose a few moves that target the muscle groups you want to train, and create a sequence to repeat until your episode is finished. Banded leg workouts, which work both the large and small muscles in the lower body, are especially conducive to this activity because you can easily see the television while doing them. Make it a habit, and you might even feel like doing some jumping jacks every time you turn on Ted Lasso.

Get a mini stepper

If high-impact movement is hard on your body, this scaled-down version of a stair-stepper might be your answer. Because it doesn’t require you to lift your foot to step, it is gentler on your body but still provides resistance to give you cardio benefits and a lower-body workout. Plus, you don’t have to worry about space since it’s easy to tuck under your bed or into your closet when you’re not working out. And you don’t need to drop a ton of money on one—some models are around seventy dollars. When you’re starting out with a new fitness routine, forming the habit should be the number one priority. It’s okay if you don’t hit your step goal right off the bat. Just having a daily routine of stepping can boost your mood and your health. To help keep yourself accountable, find a buddy to text every day so you have support and encouragement to keep going.

Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.