This is so easy that it doesn’t seem that important. When we think of exercise, it usually conjures up images of hours at the gym, sweating and feeling sore and having to spend every free moment pushing our bodies to do something they don’t want to do.
It doesn’t have to be that difficult. Research shows that the health benefits of walking are numerous – it strengthens your bones and muscles, improves your mood, can prevent or help manage various conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure, improves balance and coordination, and can help you lose or maintain your weight.
What’s not to like about that?
If the thought of running doesn’t appeal to you at all, or would be too difficult for you, then walking is an excellent choice. Although you won’t burn as many calories, you will still get the same benefits and it will be much easier on your body.
When research came out a few years ago about the wonderful benefits of walking, people got a little obsessed and started measuring their steps, aiming for 10,000 a day. If you like to monitor yourself and find that this helps you stick to the behaviour, that’s great. But you don’t have to. Just walk as much as you can and be content knowing that every little bit counts.
Action – If you aren’t walking at all now, start slowly and work up to at least 30 minutes of brisk walking a day. A goal of 150 minutes per week is ideal and is perfect to gain all of the benefits mentioned above.
Steps – Think of all of the ways you can add a little more walking into your life. Park your car a bit further from the place you are going, or walk to the store if possible. Go for a walk before you sit and eat your lunch. Walk in the morning before work, walk to work, or walk after work or after supper. It doesn’t matter when or where, and that is what makes this so easy to do.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – When you walk briskly, you take in more oxygen. The oxygen then goes around your body into your cells and they function better. The lymph system is able to work properly when you are up and moving. Sitting too much constricts the flow of blood and everything becomes stagnant.
The physical benefits of walking are many, and so are the mental ones. Walking gives you a chance to clear your mind, or think through issues, or allow creativity to flow. It can be meditative or can be used for critical thinking. It will also make you feel like you accomplished something when you are finished, and that is always good for mental health.
Example – Unless I have to carry something heavy, I never park close to the store doors. It’s always the busiest part of the parking lot anyways. By parking further away, I leave the closer spots for those who might need them more than I do. I take the stairs whenever possible instead of the escalator. These little things add up.
It’s important to feel safe when you are walking, so if necessary find somewhere indoors like a shopping mall where you can walk as much as you like. At the very least walk around your house or the building you live in. Where the steps take you isn’t as important as just taking the steps every day.