As Americans look to prioritize health and wellness in 2026, one popular trend for managing physical health is to set a daily step goal (10K, for example). How common practice of trying to take 10,000 steps in a day?
New CivicScience data among U.S. adults (excluding other/no opinion) shows roughly one-quarter report they do get their 10K steps in each day, while another 36% say they do this ‘sometimes.’ Americans under 45 are the most likely to say they get a daily dose of 10K steps, while those aged 65 and above are by far the least likely to say they do.
Beyond the topline and demographics, additional survey data offers a glimpse into how those who take 10,000 steps daily compare with those who never do this:
Music While Working Out: Daily 10K steppers are nearly 20 points more likely than non-steppers to say they listen to music while they’re working out (48% to 30%, respectively).
Planner vs. Spontaneous: Fifty-four percent of those who say they take 10K steps daily report being more planners than spontaneous, outpacing non-steppers by 15 points. Those who don’t take 10,000 steps slightly outpace steppers in spontaneity (27% to 23%, respectively).
Dr. Pepper Drinkers: Six in ten Americans who get 10K steps per day say they enjoy drinking Dr. Pepper, 15 points higher than non-steppers who say the same.
Preferred Reading Method: Three-quarters of daily 10K steppers who read say they most often read books in print form, compared to 60% among non-10K steppers. Those who never get 10K steps daily are much more likely to say their most common reading format is digital/eBook.
Early Birds: The majority of Americans who say they get at least 10,000 steps per day (53%) tell CivicScience they wake up between 2 am and 6 am, compared to 38% among non-steppers. Conversely, those who don’t get at least 10K steps are twice as likely to wake up between 8 am and 10 am.
These trends showcase a mosaic of American lifestyles, where factors like age, morning habits, and even reading preferences vary alongside daily activity. By looking at both daily steppers and non-steppers, we see how different priorities—from structured planning to digital-first convenience—shape the way we spend our time and manage our wellness in 2026.
Do you get 10,000 steps in every day? Take this poll now and see how you compare with others who do the same:
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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.