Example Goal: Get 10,000 steps per day

Here are a few different ways you can set up a steps goal with Beeminder. Here are some considerations when you do so -- with an, ahem, step-by-step example!

The first thing you need to do is to decide whether you'll be entering data manually or using another device to report the data to Beeminder automatically. We highly recommend using an automatic data source if you have one — then you can spend more energy worrying about doing your steps and less about remembering to update your data all the time!

We have direct integrations with Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple Health fitness trackers, and each of those articles has their own step-by-step setup example. If your preferred service isn't in that list, you might also want to check IFTTT and Zapier to see if it's covered there (and we'd love to hear about the potential integration!). Both of those services can be used to automatically send data from an outside service to a Beeminder goal. 

For most integrations, if you've set it up to sync automatically, Beeminder will just check for the latest data a few times a day, and always at the deadline time. As long as you're syncing your device with the service (e.g. syncing your Fitbit with the Fitbit app), you can usually just let your automatic goal handle itself.

If you'd like to use an automatic data source, follow the link above for your device to get goal setup instructions. If you're going to enter data manually, keep reading!

Manual-entry step goal setup

  1. Head to create a new goal (also accessible through the New Goal link in the top menu).
  2. Click the + icon to start a new manual entry goal.
    3. Goal creation page: "How will you track your progress?" Below there is a button with a + sign on it, with the caption "Add progress manually to Beeminder"
  3. Select Do More as your goal type (because you want to Do More steps).

    Goal creation: Select goal type. Shows all the current goal types (Do More, Do Less, Lose Weight, Gain Weight, Custom, Odometer and Whittle Down), with the Do More option in the top left highlighted.
  4. Enter the number of steps you want to commit to. For example, you might want to do 10,000 steps per day, which is the same as 70,000 per week. A 50,000 steps per week goal would be the same as 7,143 steps per day.

    If you want to delay your goal's start a few days (maybe you're traveling this weekend), be sure to tick the Start this goal with extra leeway box. Enter the number of days you want to delay and press Continue.
    Goal creation page: "Commit to at least" followed by a stepper that you can click or a data entry box you can put the number in. Below that, you can enter the name of the units for your goal, e.g. "steps", and check a button to add extra leeway to choose when you start the goal.
  5. Give your goal a brief name. If you want, you can also write a short description with more information.

    "Give your goal a name", followed by two text entry boxes. The first allows you to enter a short slug which will name your goal and create a URL for it. The second textbox allows you to set a short description, and is optional.
  6. Finally, choose your initial pledge. This is the amount you will pay the first time you derail on the goal. After derailing, the pledge will increase by default — use the dropdown below to control how high it goes by selecting the cap. In the example below, I have chosen to start at a $5 pledge, which will increase each time I derail, until it reaches $270 — the pledge cap. (To read more about pledges and payments, check out some FAQs!)

    If you want to start out with a sort of trial period, you can choose to start the goal at $0. If you do that, the pledge will automatically increase to $5 after seven days. If you derail before that, it will also increase to $5.

    Screenshot of the "Starting Stakes" screen. The text says "Your pledge will increase each time you derail until you reach your pledge cap (which you can adjust below)", with a demonstration below showing the pledge progression: 5, 10, 30, 90... to the pledge cap, which currently shows $270. Below, a checkbox button allows you to choose to "Hold the pledge at $0 for 7 days while I get my feet wet"
  7. Next I just step through the confirmation screens (which include a preview of the graph so you get a chance to spot if you've done something unexpected)... and now my goal is ready to go! I'll need to get stepping in 4 days to avoid paying Beeminder my first $5.

    Example goal, in which shanaqui has +10000 steps due in 4 days, or they have to pay $5
  8. Once I've been for a walk, I can read my pedometer, check my device, ask my phone, or however I'm tracking my steps, and add that data on the right of the graph. Looks like I've done 8,756 steps today...
    Screenshot showing the "Enter data" form. The dropdown to choose the date is highlighted, and "8756" is entered in the "Value" field. In the optional comment field, I've added the comment "Round the park". I can hit the button that says "Add progress" to submit this data.

    Once I hit "add progress", that will get added to my graph, and I'll have 1,244 steps still to go to avoid derailment! If I go out for another short walk to meet that target, I can just add the number of steps from that walk to top it up and meet my goal.


Keywords: example goals, example graphs, minding steps, fitness

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