By the end of January, the nation’s collective enthusiasm for burpees and 5am gym alarms usually starts to wobble. The trainers drift back under the bed, the fitness apps send passive-aggressive reminders, and many people quietly decide they’ve already “failed” their New Year’s resolution.
But here’s the good news: according to new UK data, you were probably doing better than you thought all along.
Analysis from Sekonda smartwatches — based on activity from nearly 250,000 users — reveals that Brits average around 6,000 steps a day, and that walking is now the UK’s most popular form of exercise, almost twice as common as running. No extremes. No viral workouts. Just movement that fits real life.
And perhaps that’s the point.
Consistency Over Intensity
For years, we’ve been sold the idea that fitness only counts if it’s intense, sweaty and Instagram-worthy. Yet the reality looks very different. Sekonda’s 2025 Smart Movement Report, which analysed over 240,000 daily activity entries across 10 months, shows that most people stay active by weaving movement into their everyday routines — commuting, dog walking, lunch-time strolls, weekend walks.
Between July and October 2025 alone, walking accounted for 42% of all tracked exercise sessions (23,944 walks versus 11,662 runs). Step counts peaked during the spring and early summer months, but activity remained steady throughout the year — proof that people aren’t “giving up”, they’re simply choosing sustainable habits.
You Don’t Need 10,000 Steps
Crucially, the science backs this up.
Dr Tom Maggs, Chief Medical Officer at Healthwords.ai, explains that the long-held 10,000-step target isn’t a magic number.
“Research shows that around 5,000 to 6,000 steps daily, especially at a brisk pace, can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and premature mortality. The most important thing is consistency, not intensity.”
In other words, that 20-minute walk you squeeze in at lunch absolutely counts. So does the school run. So does choosing to walk rather than scroll.
The Rise of Realistic Fitness
While walking dominates, it’s not the only story. Indoor running saw a 184% year-on-year increase, likely fuelled by community-led programmes like Parkrun and Couch to 5K. Beyond that, the most popular activities included tennis, football, dance, yoga, cycling and pilates — a refreshingly varied mix.
The takeaway? People aren’t chasing rigid fitness trends anymore. They’re choosing activities that suit their lifestyle, budget and enjoyment levels — which is exactly why they’re more likely to stick.
As Pete Ogley, CEO of Time Products, puts it:
“Real fitness doesn’t look like social media. Our customers are everyday people fitting movement into real lives, and walking is what works.”
A Smarter Kind of Motivation
This shift towards realism also explains the growing appeal of affordable, design-led smartwatches — tools that encourage awareness rather than pressure. Sekonda’s smart range focuses on gentle accountability: step tracking, sleep insights, hydration reminders and movement prompts, without demanding you reinvent your life.
From the Track Smartwatch (£39.99) for habit-builders, to the stainless-steel Flex Plus (£74.99) that wouldn’t look out of place with a roll-neck and overcoat, through to the GPS-enabled Active Pro (£119.99) for those driven by data — the message is the same. Progress, not punishment.
The January Reset We Actually Need
So if January has left you feeling behind, consider this permission to reset the narrative. Fitness doesn’t have to mean joining a gym, chasing extremes or keeping up with strangers online.
Sometimes, it just means putting one foot in front of the other — and doing it again tomorrow.
And that, quietly, might be the most stylish approach of all.
