Adopt This Small Habit to Improve Your Physical and Emotional Wellbeing

This habit ignited my passion for fitness.

One habit that put me on the path of fitness. All the good habits that I have cultivated over the years can trace back to this small routine I started when I was 18.

The only reason why I still follow this habit every day is because of its simplicity. You don't need any fitness equipment or gear. You can do it in your jammies easily.

This habit was recommended by a teacher who was helping me prepare for the most competitive course in India. Charter Accountancy in India has only a 15% pass rate.

She told us that most student who drops out of the course fails the subject that no one teaches them, stress management.

This habit will be perfect for a less stressed-out year.

Small Habits Can Transform Your Life

Going for a walk after dinner is a simple practice that anyone can practice. You don't need a gym membership to venture out in the world after supper.

You just need to get your butt off the couch, slip on your shoes and go. It can't get any simpler than that. But most people have become addicted to content consumption and their newest vice is binging Netflix.

It is not always easy to pause your show in the middle and go out. Sitting and watching television is far more tempting than going out for a walk.

But you need to give this habit a try, it has changed my life completely. It has helped me develop a fitness culture that I still follow. Yoga, meditation, and running all started with this one small habit.

What is the Purpose Of This Walk

The purpose of this walk is to appreciate the starry sky. Yes, you are not going on a walk for the sake of moving or digestion, you are going on a walk to appreciate this vast universe.

Walk where you can see the sky, no matter if it's starless, moonless, or full of smog. Just make it your aim to watch the sky every night.

Walk just for 10 minutes, but do so without looking at your phone. You can listen to music but no doom scrolling.

I walk on my terrace daily, trying to find a single star in the polluted Delhi sky, which is a herculean challenge. It is my sanctum. That is the place I go to every time I am stressed or anxious.

Whenever I feel like my life is a mess, I go there take a deep breath, and look for the stars to forget my troubles.

Try to stick to one place. You can associate specific feelings with a place. For me my terrace is a peaceful place, all my experiences there are joyful and serene, so whenever I go there I feel the same feelings.

A Step Towards Emotional Well-Being

The best thing about this walk is the solitude. I use this time to reflect on my day. The task I completed and the ones I procrastinated. How I am feeling? Am I content, if not then what do I need to change?

Introspective practices can help you discover a great deal of personal knowledge. It can help you make connections between different events that have affected you greatly.

What started as a stress management habit has now become a mental clarity exercise.

I get most of my article ideas on this short walk while gazing at the stars. The daily habit of reflection has improved my quality of life.

Science-Approved Benefits For Physical Wellbeing

There is an age-old myth that you should not exercise right after eating and wait for at least 30 minutes. This myth has been busted by several studies, which supports the ideology of being active right after a meal.

• Faster Digestion:- According to this study Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, a slow 15-minute walk after a meal helped in moving the food through the stomach into the intestines.
• Low-Blood Sugar Levels:- A 2018 study concluded that people who walked 10 minutes after eating white bread had lower blood sugar levels than those who stayed sedentary.
• Weight Loss:- A study published in the International Journal of General Medicine concluded that walking after a meal is much more effective for weight loss.
• Less Gas And Bloating:- A 2020 study found that increasing daily steps reduced the severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrom.
• Stress Reduction:- A study published in Frontiers in Public Health concluded that a 20-minute walk in nature can significantly lower stress levels.

Add Meditation To The Mix

Listening to songs or podcasts is my go-to activity while walking at night. I have made several playlists over the years according to my mood.

Suffice to say, I love music.

But last year I discovered a wonderful practice that has elevated this habit.

Walking meditation is a Buddhist approach that makes meditation easy. It is exactly what it sounds like. Go on a walk without your phone and let your mind wander but don’t engage with any thought, put your mind in the backseat and observe your thoughts.

This practice has made meditation easier for me. I am a yoga trainer and I still struggle with meditating for long periods, my highest record in two minutes.

But with this technique, I can easily meditate for 10–15 minutes happily.

Conclusion

Practicing this habit has led to many good habits that I have formed over the years. Yoga, running and intermittent fasting are a few of them. This is the habit that launched on the path of better physical and mental health.

I will forever be grateful to my favorite teacher for introducing me to this practice. Her one advice changed my life for the better.

So, today after dinner you should go for a walk, look at the sky and appreciate this beautiful universe that we live in.

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