Tips to improve or maintain your walking routine Part 2 – Spice it Up!
To help your walk become a habit, build it into your daily routine. Maybe it becomes part of your lunch break or something to do after dinner. Add your walk to your calendar, just as you do with other appointments. There will be days when you may need to adjust your walking schedule, but keep it as consistent as possible.
Now comes the fun part of a walking program. Add small challenges to your routes or try some of these ideas:
● Add a workout section with a set of lunges, squats or push-ups.
● Create a walking bingo game or mentally play the alphabet game by finding something along your route that begins with A, B, C.
● Walk like other animals.
● Try a new route to vary your scenery, as well as level of difficulty.
● Walk on grass or a dirt or gravel path instead of concrete.
● Vary your pace by speed-walking for short distances.
● Up the ante with resistance bands or weights.
● Listen to music, a podcast or guided meditation.
● Fuel your body and stay hydrated.
● You don’t need to go on a special diet. Instead, pay attention to how your body reacts to what, when and how much you eat. Be mindful of hydration and how your body responds. Small changes can make a world of difference.
● Embrace apps or leave technology at home.
● Your smartwatch may have started out as an accountability partner, pushing you to start that next walk. But wearable technology also can provide virtual badges as you reach certain goals, let you walk virtually with friends and even incorporate mindfulness.
● Or try a walk without technology. Listen to the sounds around you. Feel the cool breeze on your face. Take some time for just you.
Once you take that first step, you’ll be on your way to an important destination: better health!
Source: Mayo Clinic
