Walk Your Way to Better Health

Walking is a great way to stay healthy and can help prevent or manage serious medical conditions. It's a modest aerobic exercise that can help you stay within a healthy weight range. It can help reduce your risk for heart disease and blood pressure problems. Studies show that active people lose less bone density and avoid osteoporosis. Walking may also reduce your risk for several types of cancer. On top of all these physical health benefits, walking just feels good. A walking routine can help manage stress levels and emotions.  

Physical activity recommendations encourage 30 minutes of daily moderate activity to reach a total of 150 minutes each week. That might seem like a lot, but you don’t have to log it all at once. You can break it down into as little as 10 minute spurts of activity that won’t even cause you to break a sweat. A walk around the block before each meal will help you reach your goal in no time.

You can walk almost anywhere, even in the comfort of your own home. Try walking from room to room, the length of a hallway, or even climb a flight of stairs for an extra challenge. Try to fit in some extra steps while you’re at work too. Substitute the stairs for the elevator. If you drive instead of teleworking, park your car to maximize your steps to the office. A walking break can be a great pick-me-up when energy fades at work or at school.

The best part is that walking is good for the whole family. Kids need to be active, and exercising together can make it a fun family time instead of drudgery. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Get the new year off to a good start, and take the first step toward wellness.