Walking is an underrated form of exercise: why that should change
For a while, walking has been an underrated exercise. Most people rather view intense workouts and weightlifting as exercise.
Despite how basic and simple it looks, walking is the most easy and accessible exercise one can do.
Let’s explore reasons why walking should be seen as actual exercise
Walking is a gentle exercise but it can be very effective.
No matter the age or physical level of a person, that person can participate in walking as an exercise. In fact, walking is an exercise for all categories of persons.
Walking isn’t as intense as running or lifting weights. Walking doesn’t put much stress on the joints. With walking, there is reduced chance of sustaining an injury. Interestingly, walking can help burn some calories, as well as have in positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
Walking doesn’t just boost physical health, it boosts mental health as well. Many will agree that walking is a form of therapy.
Sometimes just taking a walk, especially in a nice landscape surrounded by nature can be so relaxing, helping to reduce anxiety and stress one may be feeling.
Walking can be done anywhere, anytime. It just easily fits into your schedule. You don’t need some special planning or equipment to walk.
All you need to do is just start walking. Walking can be done as a morning routine, or an evening routine, during a lunch break or in the middle of a task.
Walking helps with focus and generating ideas. If you’ve ever figured something out, or gotten an idea or a solution to a problem while taking a walk, it’s probably because of that walk.
This could be due to the fact that walking separates you from all the distractions and noise that hamper your focus and creativity
Walking has massive positive long term effects. Taking regular walks has been associated with longer lifespan. It also reduces the risk of developing diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some cancers. Walking could also make our cognitive function better as we get older.
Walking is the starting point to a fit life. Walking doesn’t seem like a gigantic task. It’s not overwhelming. So it is the easiest way for someone to start their fitness journey and it won’t seem like a mountain to climb.
From walking, people can be motivated to graduate to other elements in their journey to a healthier life like eating and sleeping right, because in their mind, they have already started the journey with walking.
Personally, I love walking because I get to notice the things going on in my environment when I take walks. I get to know the new people in the neighborhood, I gey to see the buildings coming up, I also get to interact with the people I know.
So walking helps me stay updated on the status of my environment, enabling me keep track of the things happening around me.
You can see that walking, as basic and simple as it seems, is so beneficial. So when you don’t feel like doing the high intensity workouts, you can choose to take a walk.
I think on Tuesday I was asked to submit an invoice somewhere, and I went there alone, the walk was like a twenty-minute walk, and going and coming out from that place taught me that indeed walking is an exercise because I felt my legs shaking like I did a major exercise.
That's how powerful a walk can be
Walking can be really exhausting, but it's a healthy exercise, that is really impactful to the human body.
This is such a wholesome reminder that simple doesn't mean ineffective. 🚶♀️🌿 I totally agree -walking is underrated but incredibly powerful. I love how you touched on the mental health benefits too; sometimes a quiet walk does more for the mind than a full gym session. Plus, the bit about noticing your environment really resonated -it's like reconnecting with the world around you
Walking is important, every once in a while we just have to do a little exercise no matter how small.