Walking for wellbeing

I have been going on a walk nearly every day and I am hoping to do it more. I find that I can sit in front of a computer or on my phone for hours and the day just goes.

As common as walking is, I probably don't do enough of it. So, when I am motivated enough, walking feels great and is a healthy habit I am trying to form. It gets me outside and is a great and accessible form of exercise (no gyms, pools or subscriptions required). Sometimes, I don’t even know how much stress or worry I am carrying with me until I go for a walk. It helps me breath and relax.

I also don’t realise how sore I can get from sitting down all day. I have gone for walks at Morialta, over to the botanic gardens and around the park lands when I have the time. Even though it isn’t the middle of the Australian bush, it is nice to have some fresh air and see some greenery. One of the great things I like about going for a walk among nature is all the different kinds of wildlife that I see. It might be the cheeky lorries or cockatoos that are starting to nest or some lizards and bugs or an unknown bird but there is always something. I also find that stopping for a moment to watch animals can be really relaxing. The way they don’t carry their problems around like us humans can be quite refreshing.

Something that holds me back from getting outside for a walk is the illusion of time. I make lists of all the things I have to do and I soon get overwhelmed or I begin believe that I just won’t have time. For some strange reason, the day can pass really quickly when I am in front of a screen. Before I know it, I’ve been looking at my phone for an hour or flicking through emails and assignments for quite some time. The good thing about walking is that it feels really slow but it doesn’t take long. I have had times when I feel like I have been walking for hours and I check the time and it has only been half an hour. I think the lack of distractions and constant engagement helps my busy brain slow down and think.

Even on the rare occasion where I don’t have time to walk, I am trying to take the stairs when I can. Although it can be cumbersome, I have started to realise how often I blindly jump on the elevators and escalators. Instead, I am trying to walk up and down the stairs. It can be a hassle but it usually takes the same time as the lift and after I have gone up a few flights of stairs, I have probably got a few extra steps into my daily routine.