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Walking can offer numerous benefits to everyone of all ages and fitness levels. While walking is a natural thing for us, unfortunately, many people also get tired at the thought of walking distances. We’d rather drive to the office or take public transport than sweat it out walking to work.
Now, if you live a couple of miles away from work, of course walking may not be an ideal option for you. However, if your workplace is within a short distance from your home, it’s time to consider walking to work. In this article, we’ve listed out how walking to work can positively impact your overall well-being. Check them out!
Is Walking An Hour To Work Good For You?
Walking is a simple yet great form of exercise that can aid the body in numerous things. Although, compared to other forms of exercise, a lot of people don’t realize that taking a walk is as effective or efficient for weight loss and being physically active. According to experts, walking an hour each day may help you burn calories and provide other benefits to your health.
Is Walking To Work Worth It?
Key Health Benefits of Walking to Work
There are several perks to reap from taking a walk to work, and most of them are related to our health. Aside from that, taking walks can benefit your wallet too. To find out how here are a couple of reasons why walking to work is absolutely worth it:
Incorporates Physical Activity To Your Regular Routine
Walking is a good form of cardio exercise, and you don’t even have to hit up the gym to do so. If you walk fast enough to raise your heart rate, temperature, and breathing, you’ll get the same rewards as you do when you run on a treadmill. This is also a good way to incorporate more movement into your day, especially if you’re someone who lives a sedentary life and rarely does workouts.
After a few days or a week, you’ll notice that your stamina will have improved and that you won’t feel as worn out as before. You’ll also have more energy to get through the workday.
Reduces High Blood Pressure and Other Conditions
Similar to other kinds of exercise, walking can help you stay in shape and lower your risk of developing several health conditions. From coronary heart disease to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions, the likelihood of these diseases to befall you will be certainly reduced if you regularly walk to work.
Improved Mental and Physical Health
According to studies, doing any physical activity can cause chemical changes in the brain, like the release of endorphins that can boost your mood. With your mood improved, you’ll gain a better sense of motivation, raise your self-esteem, and boost your energy levels as well. Having better mental wellbeing can make you more productive and focused at work. Aside from that, you’ll also find that your lung capacity, stamina, metabolism, and muscles will improve too.
Lower Stress Levels
We’ve already established that taking a walk can be great for your physical and mental well-being. When those two aspects are raised and improved, our stress levels, on the other hand, get reduced. Researchers from the University of East Anglia did a study and found that regularly walking can help us feel less stressed and feel happier, inside and out. Those who took the time to walk to work found that they can concentrate better and felt like they were under less strain than before.
Gives You More Time to Yourself
Walking to work allows you to have free time to think and ruminate without the added pressure of office surroundings. It may also help you become inspired or think of creative solutions to solve problems or organize your mind before you arrive at the office. Apart from that, you’ll also have some extra me time to listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or your favorite music.
Sure, you can also do those things while driving or commuting but you can’t exactly focus on them because your attention has to be on the road, or you’re surrounded by other commuters and you’re planning how you can squeeze yourself out of the train at your stop. Walking allows you to have your own time, lay out all the matters in your head, and even put your mind in a meditative state, readying yourself for the workday ahead.
Bonus: Save Money
Now, this one benefit isn’t exactly related to our well-being but it might as well be. Walking to work (and back) allows you to save money. Think about the amount of money you spend on gas, public transport fare, or even your gym membership. When you walk to work, you can set aside the money you used to spend for those things and when the money adds up over time, you can spend it on more rewarding ventures.
Is Walking All Day at Work Good For You?
Exercising is a wonderful way to maintain your body and stay fit, however, like most things in life, it can also be possible to overdo it. When you exercise too much or walk too much, you could injure yourself or damage your body. To ensure that you don’t overdo walking while at work, limit yourself to doing about 5 to 10 minutes of it during your lunch break.
Bottomline
Walking is a simple yet powerful way to stay healthy, become stronger, and live a better lifestyle. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce obesity-related ailments, improve your mental health, increase your energy, increase your productivity, save your wallet, and make you feel better overall. Do remember that if you’re just starting out with making walking to work into a habit, it’s important to get a sturdy and comfortable pair of walking shoes so that your feet won’t ache by the end of your route.
If you live too far from work and walking isn’t viable for you, consider parking farther away from your usual spot and stroll the distance between your car and your building. If you commute, consider getting off one stop early and arriving at your office on foot. You can also set aside some spare time during the day or on weekends to take walks around your building or near your home. Stay safe and healthy!
