How smug can I feel if I take the stairs?

Very, if our collective step count is anything to go by. So-called ‘incidental activity’ – the exercise you do when you’re not actually trying – was falling even before the start of the first lockdown.

One 2016 study* found that our hunter-gatherer ancestors may have done 14 times as much moderate to vigorous physical activity, largely thanks to doing the kind of try-not-to-die tasks that count as exercise today (running, swimming, boxing). But seemingly small choices can have a larger impact on your fitness than your workout does. Another study* found that incidental activity can account for up to 800 of the calories you burn each day; even standing or fidgeting can burn as many as

350 more calories across a day compared with sitting stationary. The upshot? In addition to hitting your Nhs-recommended target of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, tag on incidental exercise wherever you can. So, invest in a standing desk, park your car at the outer edges of the car park and, yes, take the stairs.