Taking care of your physical and mental health doesn’t have to be complicated. Daily exercise as simple as walking can help you live the healthier life that you’ve always wanted. The benefits of walking are endless, but we’ve gathered 5 key benefits that will immediately improve your life:
1. Improve and Maintain Your Health
Taking the time to engage in an aerobic activity everyday will not only improve your cardiovascular fitness, but also your overall health. A 30-minute daily walk can help prevent various conditions like heart disease and strokes, strengthen your bones and muscles, and strengthen your immune system. Not to mention, walking can help maintain a healthy body weight and lose body fat.
2. Improve Sleep
If you have a hard time falling asleep, a daily walk may just be the answer you need! Daily exercise has been proven to improve sleep quality for many people. Exercise can decrease the amount of time you lie awake in bed before falling asleep, alleviate daytime sleepiness, and reduce the need for sleep medications.
3. Reduce Stress
If you’re feeling stressed, get moving! Other than boosting your endorphins, walking can also improve the ability to sleep and distract you from daily worries, which in turn reduces stress. In other words, it is a meditation in motion. You may find yourself forgetting the day’s irritations while you walk. So, why not?
4. Improve Mood and Overall Happiness
Having a bad day? Take a walk. In addition to the previously mentioned health benefits, walking can also increase one’s overall happiness. I mean, who doesn’t want to be happy? Walking releases endorphins, also known as “happy hormones”. “Happy hormones” are the hormones that can turn a rough day into a good day. That being said, take a walk my friends, even if it’s only for a few minutes!
5. Increase Lifespan
Walking, such a mindless task, has the potential to increase one's life expectancy tremendously. New findings show that taking more steps a day can significantly increase one's lifespan. Taking long walks, although great, is not necessary. Five-minute lunch break strolls or taking the stairs will do the trick.