It’s National Walking Day, today let’s celebrate the easiest way that you can improve your health and be a better you. Going for a walk is, for the most part, an incredibly simple and quick addition to your daily routine. It requires no equipment, is low impact, and can be done anywhere at any time. Although your walk to work may seem unexceptional, its impact on your health and wellbeing is anything but. Here are three reasons why walking is so good for you.
Boosts Your Energy and Mood
Physical benefits aside, going for a walk could be the perfect time for you to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is allowing yourself to become more aware of your surroundings. Intensely listening to the sounds of your feet trail along the ground and the earthy smell of wet dirt as you walk. It’s all about what you are feeling in the moment, which relaxes your body and mind to help reduce stress. Walking has also been proven to boost mood, decrease negative thoughts and increase energy levels; this is even more apparent when walking in nature.
Improves Balance and Coordination
Walking can be the perfect exercise for someone who just getting started on their fitness journey, experiences joint pain, or has an injury. It allows you to go at your own pace whilst offering similar benefits as running or jogging without the additional stress on your body. Physical benefits include improving your balance and coordination as you’ll gain more control of your movements, stability, and strength.
Reduces Risk of Disease
Introducing at least thirty minutes of walking each day can substantially decrease the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type two diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers. Walking is the most underrated form of exercise. Exercise doesn’t need to be aggressive or overwhelming to have a large impact on your physical health.
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