It’s become a pretty common subject in our daily conversations, we Australians want to improve our health, but our schedules are so full it’s hard to make the time to get to a gym or go for a swim, and our good intentions fall by the wayside. The good news is there are some easy steps you can take to improve your health, and you don’t need a gym or swimming pool to do them- just start by taking some simple steps! Humanity’s most basic activity, walking, is practically a cure all for the many physical and mental ailments that trouble us. A research team made up of scientists from the University of Sydney and the University of Southern Denmark discovered that walking just 10,000 steps a day will help you lower your risk of disease and reduce stress, thus prolonging your life!
Those 10,000 steps add up to about 8 kilometres, or 1 hour and 40 minutes of walking, depending on your physical stride and speed. The good news is you don’t have to do it all in one go, every step you take adds to the count. Try walking to your work or school if the distance is not too great, or get off the bus a bit early to walk the last leg! Shopping trips, walking the dog, taking a stroll during break time, it all adds up to your improved health and well-being! Just make sure you wear the right clothes, especially for longer walks. A comfortable pair of trousers, shorts, or skirt for easy mobility, and a jacket or sweater for inclement weather will help, but the most important thing is to wear the right shoes. You’ll want the very best available, so check out Skechers shoes, they have a wide selection to fit every walker’s comfort and style!
If you need more convincing that walking is a great way to get healthy, here are some of the benefits it will bring to you:
- An increase in muscle strength and endurance
- A reduced risk of strokes and heart disease
- An increase in cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness (the heart and lungs)
- A reduction in body fat- what’s not to love about that?
- The strengthening of bones
- Improved balance
- A reduction of the ill effects from chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, muscle and joint stiffness and pain, and high cholesterol
- A reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression
Any amount of walking you do a day is helpful, try to shoot for at least 30 minutes. If you want to extract even more health benefits from your walk, try these extra hacks:
- Carry hand weights
- Increase your speed periodically throughout your walk
- Shoot for longer distances
- Walk up hills and stairs
No need for a gym, or a pool, or any equipment but a good pair of walking shoes! Just get up and take those first steps toward walking your way to better health!