As a society, we’ve gotten lazy. In comparison to our ancestors, we are nowhere near as mobile as they were. As technology advances, we have gratefully accepted it. Long gone are the days when we had to walk to the river to collect water or take to the fields for a day’s labor to bring in the crops. Life has been made easier for us, we just pop to the store to buy what we need, and long distances are covered by automobiles. A lot of us now don’t even need to leave the house, as we can get pretty much anything delivered online.
While all these advancements are great, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The result of this ‘easier’ (physically, at least) lifestyle, is that we’re not working our bodies as much as we used to. But worry not, because we’re here to help you change that, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be compensated with intense gym workouts and hours lifting weights. Making small adjustments in your day-to-day habits can have a bigger impact on your body than you realize. Often overlooked, because it’s a basic daily activity, walking is a great exercise and can really help improve your fitness over time. Obviously, the amount of calories burned depends on your weight, fitness level, and speed, but if you incorporate more walking into your daily life, you can improve your overall fitness.
Here are a few tips to help you reach a target of walking between 30-60 minutes a day, a few times a week. Try walking to the grocery store or post office instead of driving. If you take the bus to work, consider getting off a couple of stops earlier and walking the rest. If you have the option between stairs or escalators, take the stairs now and again, this will also build your muscle strength in your legs. With time, your stamina will grow, and you’ll find you’re getting less winded from these short stints of walking. At that point, it’s time to try aiming to walk every day. Maybe walk to a convenience store that’s a bit further than you’re used to. You’ll soon find that walking becomes part of your natural daily life, and will have you feeling fitter than you ever expected.