Complete Guide to Stepping Towards Health – A Silly Little Walk 

One of the best forms of exercise is walking. This is a complete guide on stepping towards health. You’ll learn exactly why we should all be going on a silly little walk.

Keep reading to explore the amazing world of walking. It’s underrated and deserves way more credit. Walking has mental and physical benefits that are life-changing.

Stepping Towards Health 

Stepping towards health is all about getting up, going outside, and walking. You don’t need a destination, you don’t need to go on an errand, you don’t really need a purpose. This might become your favorite part of the day since it’s a simple, mindless activity that lets you move your body. Plus the change in scenery can do wonders too. Check out this article here for all the amazing things that being outside in nature can do for you.

Mental Benefits

There are many mental benefits of getting out and going on a silly little walk. If done correctly, it’s almost a form of mindful meditation. Mindfulness is the mental activity in which you are present in the moment. You can simply go out on a walk and think of nothing but being in the moment. Think about the sounds you hear, what you smell, what you feel, etc.

Great thinkers in history, such as Henry Thoreau, advocated for the benefits of walking and stimulating the mind, but a walk is more straightforward than that.

It’s easier to relax and enjoy the moment when you don’t have a purpose, nor are you trying to meditate or walk for enlightenment. Going outside and clearing your head can help reduce depression and anxiety, and help to improve your mood. When you move your body, the brain releases chemicals that make you feel better. This also helps to reduce stress and other negative emotions, allowing the mind to reset. 

Physical Benefits

The breathing you use when you go on a walk is calm, and deep, and helps to circulate important nutrients throughout the rest of your system. This makes it a good boost for physical health as well. Walking in this calm, tranquil way can also help to reduce cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a stress hormone that tends to lead to chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to a plethora of health issues such as diabetes, joint pain, and many other diseases.

The deep breaths you take also activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the body that is meant to restore us to homeostasis, to a neutral, calm state. Aside from that, walking is one of the first things you can do to prevent cardiovascular disease. Walking helps to improve heart health and it is a low-impact exercise meaning that almost everyone can do it. This makes walking an excellent choice for anyone, no matter the fitness level, from beginners to experts.

There are even ways to make a silly little walk a bit more intense. You can add weight, walk uphill, or simply quicken your pace. Walking is an easily adjustable exercise that can help tone your core, legs, and glutes. Daily movement is very beneficial, and low-impact daily walks can be better for you than high-intensity running or jogging. This is because walking at a low-intensity rate will help burn more fat and keep your heart healthy without straining it.

A Guide on Stepping Towards Health

So, how exactly do you get to step in towards health? It’s very simple and a little silly to explain. All you really need to do is get up, go outside and walk. There is no right or wrong way to take a walk. If you want to, plan to go somewhere. Go grab a cup of coffee, go to a friend’s house, or walk mindlessly and without a destination. The important thing is to get some sunshine, breathe some air, and experience a change in your environment.

Walking Tips

Even if it’s just walking, everyone can use some good tips from someone who loves to walk. I get 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day for fun. I know my stuff.

• Hydrate – dehydration is a big issue that a lot of us ignore. Even slight dehydration can cause problems, such as headaches, incoherent thoughts, irritability, and dry mouth. Make sure you are hydrating well, even boosting your water with some electrolytes if needed.
• Mind the thighs – as someone who never skips leg day, my thighs are very much present. For anyone else who has thighs that save lives, make sure you are wearing clothing that helps prevent friction between the thighs or using a balm that reduces friction. There’s nothing worse than going on a walk and feeling the burn of skin rubbing against the skin.
• Avoid high heat – getting some sunshine is great, but getting a sunburn sucks. Try to avoid going outside during the most intense parts of the day. This includes from 10 am to about 4 pm when the sun is at its most dangerous and hot.
• Chill – remember, this is just a little walk. Don’t overthink it, don’t set yourself out, just get up and get out there.
• Pace yourself – another terrible thing to experience when going on a walk is running out of fuel when you’re nowhere near your house again. Pace yourself, know your own ability, and know how far you can travel and how far you need to travel back.

The Takeaway

Stepping towards health is something we can all get behind. This can be done by just taking a little walk outside. There are many benefits to walking, for both physical and mental health. To get all these benefits, all you need to do is get up, go outside, and walk.

Remember, health always comes from within. Start by eating nutritious food, moving your body, exercising when you can, and caring for your mental health. These small daily changes and habits that you start to cultivate become the foundation for a life full of wellness. Don’t forget about the health of your microbiome, too! Gut microbiota affects everything in your body, from the skin to muscles to the immune system and mental health. Get all the resources you need about microbiota health for free here!