Helping to boost immune function, prevent many serious health conditions, and increase your overall energy? Still not convinced? What about finally having a remedy to help curb that sweet tooth you’ve been trying to get rid of – or at least, contain a bit? Those are just some of the many benefits that you stand to gain by walking, even for just 30 minutes a day!
Though factors such as frequency and speed of your walks do play a role in how much your overall health will actually benefit from walking, this form of aerobic activity is a simple way to improve your heart health and reduce your risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and more. And for just 30 minutes a day? If you can’t complete one longer walk, try several shorter walks throughout the day – just 15 minutes at lunch and 15 minutes after work will do it, or any other combination that works for you. A short walk at lunch will probably help give you that extra boost of energy to make it through the rest of the day at work before you head back into the office, too – a win-win!
The CDC recommends that adults complete 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like brisk walking), or a combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity (like jogging) per week, in addition to strength training exercises a couple times a week. Spread out throughout the week, that’s only about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
Of course, if you’re walking outdoors, you might need a bit more motivation than just knowledge of the health benefits – particularly if the weather isn’t the best. Varying your walking route can keep walking interesting and enjoyable – and you might even come across your new favorite place! Or, maybe you’re more of an extrovert and the thought of being alone for 30 minutes on a walk sounds quite unappealing – so ask a friend (or several) to walk with you at lunch! If the weather is too extreme, you could try walking in a mall or around an indoor track, too. The possibilities are endless – so make walking a new (or renewed!) part of your daily routine today!