I Started Taking Long Walks In My Scheme — What Happened

Here is why walking is a good idea.

The weather is chilly. But the sun peaks, though, so it is not too icy.

I have been exercising on and off for the last few months. Then the weather became cold. It froze my enthusiasm.

I have longed to workout again. It is never good practice to rush into exercise. So, I avoided running. You can start slow too by taking long walks.

Long walks are what I do.

It’s working for me.

What are the benefits of walking, and why does it work?

I know there is plenty of research on this form of exercise.

I have always thought the times suggested by researchers were a bit much. You know, long and exaggerated.

But their advice to walk for about 150 minutes per week is quite doable. Over seven days, this works out to around 21 minutes per day. If you do it with great leisure, your heart rate will increase. But you won’t even feel it much.

Does the scenery matter?

No, it does not. Like at all.

Hoping for scenery is a simple route to procrastination. You will think, “I saw those houses and people yesterday. Do I want to see that again today?” I try not to get into my head too much about my surroundings. Why? Because walks in concrete jungles can still bring you peace.

So, what matters? The time of day you choose to walk.

What time is best for walks?

I don’t think anytime is excellent for a walk.

I avoid walking when everyone is leaving for work, returning for lunch, or coming home from the office. I recommend you do the same.

The air is toxic at those times.

During exercise, you breathe deeper. You will use your lung at a higher capacity to inhale all that pollution. It takes away from the benefit of the long walk.

How long should you walk?

It is a preference. Every research suggests different time frames. The lowest I have ever seen stated is 10 minutes. Above I mentioned 21 minutes. And people who have time plus live near hiking trails may walk for 45 to 60 minutes.

My sweet spot is 30 minutes.

Choose your zone of comfort. You have demands on your time. So, give yourself the comfort of knowing you did some physical activity in the day. When you can’t go outside, a couple of treks from the laundry room or bathroom and back to your desk work fine.

Fun Fact

Some of the longest-living people in the world walk for miles every day. How cool is that?

What benefit have I gotten from long walks?

I do late-night walks around the block.

You can’t stop thinking about it. Let me put you out of your misery. No, I have not lost weight. I would need to cut back my calorie intake. If you want to learn how to lose weight and keep it off:

What has changed because of the walking?

The speed at which I fall asleep. I no longer stream and chill until the heavenly hours of the morning. I have a quieter mind now. After a shower, I am tumbling into bed, tired.

The effect of exercise on people’s bodies is different. Some individuals would rather walk in the morning. The movement and effort would make them feel like they are starving afterward.

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