Sitting dead still in a ground blind for hours… sounds like zero activity, right? Well, maybe not entirely. Turns out, even those little fidgets and adjustments can add up, and keeping track of em might be more useful than you think.
What is NEAT anyway
NEAT stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. Fancy term, huh? Basically, its the energy you burn doing everyday stuff that isn’t formal exercise like running or lifting weights. Think walking to your stand, fidgeting, shifting your weight, even shivering a little. All those little movements count towards your daily calorie burn.
Its easy to overlook these small actions, but they can make a surprising difference. When you’re out hunting, especially from a blind, you’re not just a statue. You’re scanning, adjusting your gear, maybe stretching a cramped leg. That’s all NEAT.
| Activity Example | NEAT? |
|---|---|
| Walking to the blind | Yes |
| Setting up decoys | Yes |
| Fidgeting while waiting | Yes |
| Intense gym workout | No |
| Reaching for your calls | Yes |
Why track steps in a blind
You might be thinking, “Steps? In a ground blind? I’m barely moving!” And yeah, you’re not exactly running a marathon in there. But tracking those subtle movements, even if they don’t register as full “steps” on a device, helps you understand your baseline activity. It’s about being mindful of how much you’re not moving, too.
Knowing this can help you:
- Gauge how sedentary your hunts really are.
- Encourage small, subtle movements to keep blood flowing.
- Offset some of the negative effects of prolonged sitting.
- Stay a bit more alert… less chance of dozing off.
Think of it as a quiet way to stay engaged with your body, even when your main focus is on the woods around you. Every little bit helps, especially over a long season.
Simple ways to boost movement
Okay, so you’re not going to do jumping jacks in your Double Bull. The key is small, controlled motions that won’t spook game but will keep you from turning into a rock.
Here’s some ideas:
- Ankle pumps and circles: Just lift your toes, then flex your feet. Rotate your ankles. Super quiet.
- Leg lifts: Slowly lift one leg just an inch or two off the ground, hold, then lower. Alternate legs.
- Shoulder shrugs and rolls: Lift your shoulders towards your ears, then roll them back and down.
- Core twists (tiny ones!): Very slowly twist your torso just a fraction. Think super subtle.
- Fidgeting is fine: Tapping fingers, shifting weight slightly in your seat… it all counts.
The goal isn’t to break a sweat, its just to avoid complete stillness for hours on end. These little actions can add up to more NEAT than you’d expect.
Tools for tracking steps
So how do you actually keep tabs on this subtle activity? Most folks already have what they need.
- Smartwatches & Fitness Trackers: Devices from Garmin, Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc., are pretty good at picking up even small movements. They might not log a “step” for every ankle flex, but they’ll register general activity levels. Set em and forget em.
- Smartphone Apps: Many phones have built-in pedometers or can use health apps to track movement if the phone is on your person. Maybe less accurate in a blind if your phone is set aside, but still an option.
- Old-School Pedometers: A simple clip-on pedometer can work too. It might be less sensitive to tiny fidgets but will capture any more significant shifts or short walks when you reposition.
Don’t get too hung up on the exact number of “steps.” Use these tools as a general guide to see if you’re moving a little or not at all. It’s more about awareness than hitting a specific step target while you’re trying to arrow that big buck.