Walking For Health
I do a lot of walking. I think it is great on a lot of levels. For one, it is good exercise. Yes, you could be doing something more high intensity, but it is still good for your body. You are burning calories and getting your blood pumping.
Walking is also good for your emotional health. Sometimes you just need to stop what you are doing, take a breath, and take some steps. I use it to clear my mind and de-stress. Additionally, I find it is a good time to work through my problems. By the time I am done with a walk I have often been able to find the path I am going to take to deal with a difficult situation.
When I can, I try to go hiking. You get the benefits of walking and nature combined. As I mentioned in my post The Power of Nature, being in nature is good for our psychological and physical health. All the benefits of walking seem amplified when you are moving among the trees and streams.
Let’s discuss some aspects of walking you may not have considered:
Walk Wherever and Whenever
I often hear people complain that they do not have time for walking. I would argue that walking is the easiest form of exercise. Even if you don’t set aside time for a walk, you probably do a decent amount of walking in your everyday life. Recent research has noted that you may only need 5000 steps a day to decrease your mortality rate. In fact, any gains from walking appear to plateau at 7500 steps. That means you don’t have much of an excuse for not increasing your longevity. There are many ways to insert walking into your day. Walk to lunch. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Instead of driving to do an errand, just hoof it. Whenever reasonable, use your feet. You’ll find those little changes add up to a whole lot of healthy lifestyle
Walking With Others
Walking can be a solitary exercise and you, in fact, may want the time to be by yourself. But, it can also be a social activity. Instead of sitting in a coffee shop, grab a friend or co-worker and walk for a while. One great aspect of walking, unlike jogging or another exercise, is that it is easy to have a conversation while you are doing it. Catch up with a friend. Talk over a problem. Just enjoy some company. Whatever the case, walking with someone (or more than one) can be a fun and rewarding experience.
Meditation
When you think of meditation, it is common to picture someone in the lotus position chanting “OM”. Meditation, however, does not have to be relegated to a yoga studio. It is more than acceptable to walk and meditate at the same time. While this may be easier to do in nature, it is also something you can do in the middle of a city block. In fact, practicing meditation in an active surrounding may help you cope better with the everyday stress of life. There are numerous guided meditations that incorporate walking. You can find them in popular apps and meditation audio recordings.
Walking is an optimal activity. It is convenient, fun and healthy. It is something you don’t have to learn and you are already doing it every day. All it takes to increase your steps are a few tweaks in your daily habits.