Even with the mandatory shut down of most of the World for over a year, which gave us more time, many of us still find it challenging to find the time or place to honor ourselves with regular and consistent physical movement. Believe me, I understand that time can be at such a premium. However, there is one form of exercise that is a little secret to Awesome Aging that does not require any extra time or equipment, and has massive health benefits. If you haven’t guessed, it’s walking. It’s awesome that something so simple could have such an impact on the quality of your life.
I understand you may be thinking, “blah, blah, blah, Renee, I know walking is good for me.” I get it. I’m sure you know walking helps burn more calories, is good for your heart, and your mobility. However, are you aware that walking can actually boost your self-confidence, or that it sends oxygen to your brain, which can stimulate your creative juices, and help you make better decisions throughout your day?
Research shows that in addition to improving your circulation, walking sends increased blood flow to your brain, which is linked to better cognitive function and improved memory. Walking can help to increase the size of you hippocampus. That’s the region of your brain that plays a critical role in forming and storing memories. According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the daily act of performing 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, not only improves your cognitive performance, but it also improves the cognitive functions associated with smarter and better decisions. Have you ever noticed how your best ideas, at times, come to you while you’re walking?
And check this out…if you pay attention to your surroundings while you’re walking, and pay attention to how your body is moving as you walk, you will be performing a mindful exercise that can be just as useful for your mind as a closed-eye meditation. This is really great for those that have a difficult time sitting still for any length of time for traditional meditation. It’s also a great way to divert your mind off of negative or toxic thoughts. There is no shortage of research linking walking with a fertile brain.
Let’s not overlook the benefits of walking for your body. In some circles, walking is thought of as one the most effective exercises. According to the Arthritis Foundation, “walking is one of the most important things you can do if you have arthritis. It helps you lose weight or maintain proper weight. That in turn, lessens stress on joints and improves arthritis symptoms.” Walking can help you stay stronger longer. And you can really knock it out of the park, by adding some challenges to your walk, like hills or speed. Brisk walking has been directly linked to reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference. A sedentary lifestyle is how muscle and connective tissue atrophy. Walking is one way to provide the stimulus you need for maintaining muscle and tissue density.
If you’ve been sedentary, you can build yourself up slowly by just adding walking into the things you do daily. Here’s a few ideas:
Park your car farther away from your destination.
Instead of riding the escalator, walk it.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
When you are going to the market and the bank in the same shopping center, walk to them both. Do not drive across the parking lot when you can walk.
Keep increasing your distance, then your speed.
Make sure you are reaping the rewards of walking to support you in Awesome Aging. Find a way to get it in. Who knows you may get motivated to walk a marathon.
On that note, I think I’ll go for a walk.