Walk More With These Tips
By Rachel Carver
Regular walking burns calories and keeps you active. Between work and managing a household, finding time to exercise can seem impossible. This is why incorporating exercise into tasks you are already doing can be efficient and effective.
Walking every day gives you a variety of health benefits, including:
- The improvement of heart strength
- Storing less body fat
- Stabilizing blood sugar
- The improvement of brain performance
- Making healthy habits stick with you
Use these tips to efficiently make walking a part of your daily routine.
Walk First
Take a short walk before you start your day. This boosts your metabolism and gives you more energy for the rest of your day. Put your morning coffee or tea in a mug that is easy to carry to make it portable.
Walk After Meals
Many of us eat our breakfasts and lunches in the car or at our desks. Add a 10-minute walk into your lunch break. Finish your meal, stretch, and walk a few laps either outside or around your office or house. This will help your step count and your digestion.
Multitask
Multitasking is not usually encouraged, but you can take more steps just by walking while on the phone or brushing your teeth. You can even pace your living room while watching TV or have a stand-up meeting with co-workers.
Take the Stairs
Elevators are convenient and tempting, especially after a long day. But using the stairs whenever possible will help you move more. Some extra trips up and down stairs will help you exercise and can even work your glute muscles.
Hydrate
Our bodies are 60 percent water. Water keeps us healthy and staves off cravings. Increasing your fluid intake will increase your bathroom trips, which will increase your step count.
Walk Your Errands
Think about your errands. You might be able to walk from your house to the bank during nice weather. If you need to visit businesses that are close to each other, consider parking at your first stop and walking to your second before returning to your car.
Walk the Green
Golfing can be a great outdoor activity. Consider ditching the cart during your next time out on the course.
Walk Your Dog
Your furry family members need exercise too, not to mention they are almost always up for a stroll. If you do not have a dog, ask your local animal shelter if they need more volunteers. This will keep you active and help you give back to the community.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Surprise, Ariz.