With our schedules getting busier by the day, it can sometimes be difficult to schedule any time for our workout, if we even have one. By the time we get home from work that sofa in front of the TV can be too tempting to resist. After we’ve had our dinner and changed into our after-work clothes, we are probably not feeling that much motivation to leave the house and head to the gym.
But you really don’t need to head to the gym if you want to get in some excercise. All you need to do is put on a pair of comfortable tennis shoes, open your front door, and begin walking.
You don’t need a particular destination to walk to. You can just take a walk around the block or find a local jogging track and walk there. But if you really want to maximize your time, you can pick a destination where you can get something done.
Perhaps you need to pick up some milk at the store or mail a letter at the post office. Not only will picking such a destination give you that wonderful feeling of accomplishing something that you need to do anyway, you will be kiling two birds with one stone. You are not only taking care of your body, but getting something crossed off your to-do list.
Of course, you don’t actually need to give your walk an objective. Some people like taking a walk as a form of relaxation of meditation. Taking a stroll after work in the evening can be a great way to relax and think about your day, your goals, and all of things you are grateful for in your life.
But if you are going to head out for that stroll, there are a few things you can do that will make it more beneficial.
First, make sure you are wearing a comfortable pair of athletic shoes, a pair that has proper arch support. Your feet are your wheels so protect them by spending a little time considering what shoes are best for your feet.
Second, make sure that you are well enough to take a walk. There are just going to be some days when you may be feeling out of sorts and need to stay home to rest. Walking puts you outside and for that you need to make sure you are feeling healthy enough to leave the house. There’s no point in trying to exercise when you are not physically up to it.
Now, this is different than not simply feeling like exercising. When you are feeling physically fine, but are experiencing some inertia mentally, take those first few steps to start the process of momentum. Get up, change into a pair of shorts or an athletic outfit, lace up those shoes, and take those first few steps out of the house.
You will find that just a few small steps out the door will break that feeling of inertia that is making you want to stay in and watch baseball all night. Your mood will shift from laziness to wanting to exercise. It really is amazing how powerful the act of taking a few small steps can have on our feelings and our level of motivation to exercise.
But once you are out there walking, make the most of the time by swinging your arms, tightening your core, loosening your shoulders. Make the time not just about exercise, but also about relaxation and feeling good.
You can also listen to a book on tape, a podcast, or an album you haven’t heard since high school. Some people just like to enjoy the sounds of nature, the birds, the breeze, and, in the summer, the insects buzzing around. The choice is really yours. But make it something that you look forward to and enjoy. You have a lot of choices in how to make this walking session one of the highlights of your day. While some may want to use their walk to disconnect from all the chaos of the day and use the time to meditate or pray, others might want to think over a upcoming business decision that needs to be addressed or brainstorm bedtime stories for their children.
This is the best part of incorporating walking as part of your exercise regimen, There are so many benefits you can get out of it and the best part is that you get to choose them.
