Just 4,400 steps a day can improve women's longevity

Working out may be healthy, but it's also intimidating to plenty of people. Luckily, new research indicates that just walking can be great for your health — no weights, yoga, or marathons required.

A new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Wednesday, found that for older women, getting just 4,400 steps a day can significantly improve their chances of living longer. That might seem like a lot, but it's far less than the conventional wisdom of 10,000 steps a day, NPR reported. And the average American takes between 3,000 and 4,000 steps a day already.

The study analyzed the walking behavior of 17,000 women with an average age of 72. And it found that women who kept to that 4,400 figure were 40 percent less likely to die in the next four years, compared to women who walked 2,700 steps a day. And women who walked more than 7,500 steps a day didn't see any additional benefits, which means that "just light walking" is likely enough to keep you healthy, NPR explained.

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So there's no need to overachieve with your fitness tracker's results. Instead, focus on getting a moderate number of steps, and "stick to it."