Most Mayan pyramids had 91 steps on each of their four sides, with one last step up to the altar (total 365). That meant the High Priest did a minimum of 92 stair steps—that translates to just over 3,000 flat walking steps—before starting work.

If you’re finding it hard to get your 10,000 daily steps into your busy workday schedule, we suggest you follow the Mayan example and anoint yourself High Priest or Priestess of your own health: Build some of your 10,000 steps a day into your commute!

Be an Active Commuter
For most Americans, the commute averages about 26 minutes. But nearly 17 percent of workers have a travel time of 45 minutes or more. Use that time to:

• Drive to a parking spot that’s some distance from your work and walk the rest of the way—or park further away and take your bike out of your car and pedal to the office.
• Bike or walk from your house to a train/bus/light rail station that’ll bring you close to work. Then walk from there. Reverse the process after work.
• Get to work 15-30 minutes early and do stair climbing (like the Mayan priests) before going to your desk. Walking downstairs burns 175 to 275 calories per hour, depending upon your weight. Climbing upstairs burns 530 to 835 calories per hour, also weight dependent.  

Remember; it seems to take between 21 and 66 days to make something an ingrained habit, but you can do this.