10 Reasons Why You Should Walk 30 Mins Every Day

As we pass the one-month milestone into lockdown number 3, things can seem bleak for most of us. Rainy days, dark evenings and being told to stay at home can be tough. With abnormal restrictions left, right and centre, it’s time to take control and add a splash of fitness and routine into the weeks remaining of lockdown, and of course, we encourage you to continue this long after the lockdown ends.

We always stress the positives of exercise and how it can help your physical and mental health, but with the gyms closed, routines out the window and not to mention the miserable, rainy days we’ve been having lately, it can be very tricky to pick up the motivation. We should be rewarding ourselves for the little victories during this strange time, instead of beating ourselves down if we felt we haven’t done as much as somebody else. 

An easy victory could be to take a 30-min walk, every day. You may be thinking, that’s not a lot? But challenging yourself to get up and out into the fresh air can seem like a step too far some days, especially when your house is warm, cosy and rain-free. And just half an hour of walking every day can have some surprising health benefits.

Walking in the rain has never appealed to me, I mean, why on earth would you want to step outside of your lovely warm home and get soaking wet?! But since I recently got caught up in a rain shower whilst taking a walk by myself along The Barbican, I found it oddly therapeutic. I noticed the gentle raindrops on the water that rippled outwards, and the soothing sound that came with it. The air felt pure to breathe in and the quiet streets made me feel at ease. I had space to think in this mad world. Grab your waterproof coat and you’re good to go!

Bring along some headphones on your daily walk and tune in to the podcast you’ve been loving or a playlist that makes you feel happy. Haven’t caught up with a relative in a while? What better time to have a catch up then on a walk? This can help to make walking that little bit more enjoyable whilst multi-tasking. 

What benefits come from walking just 30-mins every day?

–           You’ll burn around 150 calories per half an hour

–           Your legs will become more toned

–           It will help to ease joint pain

–           Walking after a meal can help improve your digestion

–           Keeps your blood sugar levels stable

–           Could reduce varicose veins

–           You’ll feel more motivated

–           You’ll feel calmer, even if you’re walking in busy surroundings

–           You become appreciative of your surroundings

–           It might motivate you to exercise more

Walking shoes/trainers – Tick!

Raincoat – Tick!

Water bottle – Tick!

Then you’re ready to get walking!