With the fall season quickly approaching, a lot more people are coming out for an evening stroll around their neighborhoods: young couples, moms with strollers, seniors, dog-walkers, and everyone in between. And there’s a reason for this. Besides the outside temperatures cooling – albeit slowly but surely – walking is incredibly beneficial to our health and well-being in a variety of ways.
The more obvious but nevertheless important benefits are the physical ones. Exercise in the form of walking is a simple but enjoyable way to burn fat and calories, tone our bodies, strengthen our leg muscles, get our heart rate flowing, improve blood sugar levels, increase daily vitamin D intake, and more.
Walking can also have a large positive impact on our mental and emotional health. For over a year and half, the world has been in disarray, and our lives have turned upside down in many ways. This has caused many people to feel out of control, restless, anxious, depressed, or as if their overall quality of life has significantly decreased. While there’s no end-all-be-all cure for these complex issues, starting a simple, regular walking routine can help bolster clarity of mind and emotional balance.
Do you have a job or hobby that requires you to think creatively? If so, you may relate to what some refer to as “brain block.” This occurs when our brains feel “burnt out,” and it is a struggle to form new ideas. You might see where I’m going with this. A simple walk around the block can really get those creative juices flowing. You’d be surprised what a change of scenery and letting your mind wander can do for your creativity levels.
Finally, walking is also a fundamental and crucial part of recovery. Whether you are healing from an injury or feel physically exhausted from a long, hard day, walking can help you work up a sweat without putting a lot of stress on your joints like other more strenuous exercise routines. Besides this, it helps you feel rejuvenated, and you can feel a sense of accomplishment for getting out and active even when you didn’t feel like it!
So…. What are you waiting for? Take a walk!