Article: A Little Motivation to Take a Walk
"You can walk off aches and pains.
It’s tempting to stay off your feet if you’re in pain, but that’s not always the best course of action. Nearly a quarter of adults in the United States have arthritis, for instance, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (like vigorous walking) to help manage symptoms.
Research suggests that activities like walking might also help relieve lower back pain.
A regular walk might help sharpen your memory.
Feeling forgetful? A brisk, fast-paced walk may be useful. Dr. Zhang and his colleagues conducted a small study of middle-aged and older people with memory impairments and found that a half-hour walk — five days a week, over the course of a year — improved blood flow to the brain and cognitive functioning among the participants.
Walking may stop you from brooding.
If you’re trapped in a worry spiral, a half-hour trek in nature can dial down ruminative thoughts. A 2020 study in The Journal of Environmental Psychology found that a 30-minute walk significantly reduced a negative mood and “elicited more awe.”
Read the full article on The New York Times
✨Takeaway: Incorporating walking into your daily routine can be an easy and effective way to increase physical activity. Research has found that walking can sharpen your memory, lower rumination, and help with pain.
✨Reflection: How can you incorporate walking into your daily routine? What are some ways you can make walking more enjoyable?
#Exercise #Workout #Motivation #Wellness #Health
