A short walk is already exercise.

There's one little thing that often makes me scratch my head when I read statuses or hear people say, "A short walk is exercise," when it's just to the shop, the office, and around the mall.

But... well, if it's just a 5-minute walk while scrolling through your phone, it's more like... “Move a little so you don't get rusty.” and it's not really a sport.

In my opinion, that doesn't mean walking is bad — not at all.
What makes me uneasy is his way of thinking: we feel that we are “healthy” just because we do the minimum amount of exercise, and then feel satisfied.

Walking Is Important, But It's Not a “Free Pass” to an Unhealthy Lifestyle

We live in a country where:

• climbing two flights of stairs is considered an achievement,
• walking from the lobby to the parking lot can be a source of pride,
• And the phrase “I walk to the bus stop every day” is often used as an excuse to not exercise anymore.

But what often happens is this:

• slow down,
• short duration,
• without any intention of training anything,
• and then sit around all day again.

That light physical activity, not “sports program.”.

Just like saying “I read a lot, you know.”
but all I read were Instagram captions and family group chats.

It's still better than not reading at all, but we can't be compared to read thoroughly book.

Why Do Many People Consider Walking to Be Exercise?

In my opinion, there are several cultural factors and ways of thinking that are absurd:

Trauma from the Word “Sports”

For many people, the word “sports” it is synonymous with:

• running out of breath,
• sweat pouring down,
• strict physical education teacher,
• feeling embarrassed when losing / being slow.

So, when there are activities that:

• not embarrassing,
• not too tired,
• no need to change clothes,

We love to label it “exercise.” Walking is the safest option, even though it's not exercise, it's your duty as a human being.

Need an Alibi So You Don't Feel Guilty

We know we should live healthily, but:

• work is piling up,
• long traffic jam,
• There's no end to homework.

Finally, the brain searches alibi:

“Earlier, I was walking to the convenience store,
That's enough exercise for now.”

That way, the guilt is reduced. Even though our bodies are still screaming:

“Hello... my heart and muscles are still idle...”

3. Our Movement Standards Are Too Low

Many of us live very sedentary lives: (sedentary means a lazy lifestyle.)

• working in front of a laptop,
• entertainment on mobile phones/TVs,
• traveling by motorcycle/car.

At that level, Just walking 500–1000 steps already feels “wow.”.
So it's natural for the brain to consider it “exercise.”.

The problem is: we are slowly normalizing these low standards.
Until we forget that the human body is designed to move much more than that.

Distinguish: Physical Activity vs. Exercise

To avoid misunderstanding, I think it's good to differentiate it like this:

Daily physical activity

Example:

• the road to the food stall,
• the road from the parking lot to the office,
• tidy up the house,
• go up and down the stairs a little.

This is good, still necessary, and much better than 0 movement.

But its nature:

• unstructured,
• low intensity,
• The duration is short and fragmented.

Planned exercise

Example:

• brisk walking for 30–45 minutes without stopping,
• jogging,
• cycling,
• skipping,
• weight training (bodyweight or gym).

Characteristics:

• there is intention: setting aside special time for practice,
• there is minimum duration and intensity which feels challenging,
• Ideally, it should be repeated several times a week.

So, if you walk for 30–45 minutes at a faster pace until you are slightly out of breath — that sport.

If it's just a 5-minute walk to Indomaret while chatting on WhatsApp — It's just movement, not enough to be called exercise.

“Isn't it better to move a little than not at all?”

This is a sentence I hear very often.

My answer: That's right... but don't stop there.

Move a little:

• good as starting point,
• but it is dangerous if used as finish line.

The problem is if:

• we are satisfied at that “starting point” level,
• then refused because they felt, “I'm healthy, I walk every day.”

In fact:

• blood pressure,
• blood sugar,
• muscle strength,
• and heart endurance,

need more serious stimulus rather than just a leisurely 200-meter walk.

Putting $35 per day in a piggy bank is a good idea.
But if we consider it to be the same as a long-term investment,

Well, don't be surprised if your future savings remain meager.

What can we do to avoid getting stuck in this mindset?

I am not a doctor, nor am I a fitness trainer.

I'm just an ordinary person who also often feels tired, lazy, and looks for excuses.

But these things have helped change my way of thinking:

Be Honest with Yourself: Is It Exercise or Just a Walk?

Before claiming that you have “exercising,” try asking:

• Duration: How many minutes did it take?
• Intensity: Walk quickly until you breathe a little deeper, or walk slowly while scrolling through your phone?
• Intentional or accidental: Did you set aside time to walk, or was it just a coincidence because the parking lot was far away?

If the answer is more like “just an activity,” then honestly say:

“Today I only moved a little, I haven't really exercised yet.”

It's okay. It is precisely through honesty that we can slowly improve.

Raise Standards Gradually

Instead of being overly ambitious, it would be more realistic if we:

• starting with a 10–15 minute brisk walk,
• then increase to 20–30 minutes several times a week,
• or slip in a session or two of light weight training at home.

Slowly, but rising.

Make Walking a Gateway, Not the Final Destination

I actually want us to keep loving walking.
But position him as:

A gateway to an active lifestyle, not an end goal that stops us from growing.

For example:

• use walking as a warm-up before other exercises,
• Use daily steps (step counter) as an indicator, then add separate exercise sessions.

Conclusion

My concern is simple:

We are too quick to label things as “sports.”
for the most minimal movements we do every day.

If today you can only manage to “walk a little,” that's okay.
Consider that the first step.

The important thing is not to stop there and say:

“Alright, I walk every day.".
That means I've exercised.”

Because your body deserves more serious effort than that.