We are four days into 2024, and if you haven’t yet set a New Year’s resolution for yourself, there is still time. Or maybe you’ve chosen a resolution, but you are already finding it difficult to maintain. Head below for the one, easy thing you can do every day to improve your health this year and every year after – walking for 20 minutes a day.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when being indoors with too many people was frowned upon and being in public spaces was a health risk, the Business of Walking ™ boomed. I myself spent more time walking – both with my dog and without – than I ever had, simply because the world darkened at a pace in which I couldn’t keep up and getting outside was better for my mental health than anything else I could think of.
If you are someone who tries to maintain New Year’s resolutions but has difficulty doing so, committing to walking 20 minutes a day can be a gateway for improved health over time.
The benefits of walking are lengthy and pronounced, and you only need to do it for 20 minutes a day – there is no risk, and the rewards are endless. Walking for 20 minutes a day will:
- reduce the risk of heart disease,
- lower blood pressure,
- aid in weight loss,
- tame a sweet tooth,
- strengthen your heart,
- reduce stress,
- boost your mood,
- improve your immune system,
- reduce the risk of certain cancers,
- ease joint pain,
- etc., etc., etc.
If you walk in the morning, you’ll kickstart your heart rate, and you will notice improved energy throughout the day; if you walk at night, your sleep quality will improve. Got a problem you can’t solve? Go for a walk. Work in an office? Take a few laps. Is it cold outside? Layer up, baby – there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.
If you think you can’t get 20 minutes of walking in per day, I’d invite you to check your screen time, taking note of the time spent on social media apps. Cheers to a healthier 2024 – may your year be filled with 20-minute walks wherever you can get them in.
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