4 Ways to Make Walking Work for You

By Genevieve Cunningham

Walking is an incredible exercise. It might sound too simple or too basic, but many are surprised to find that this everyday activity can actually get you in incredible shape. But it’s about a lot more than putting one foot in front of the other. If you want to make dents in your fitness goals, you have to put some effort into your walking workout. How? If you would like to use this simple, but effective form of exercise to get in better shape and health, take a look at these four tips for making it work for you.

Set Goals

It might be tempting to skip this part of the process. It’s just walking, right? You may just want to put on your shoes and get moving. But if you’re using walking as a workout, you’ll need to treat it like any other workout program … and that definitely includes setting goals. What kind of goals? You might want to walk continuously for a certain amount of time. You might want to walk a particular distance. You may want to improve your mile time by a certain percentage. There are a ton of goals that you can set for yourself, and doing so will make you more serious about getting fit.

Vary the Terrain

Don’t underestimate the terrain. Walking on a flat track or treadmill will be way easier than a hiking trail or uphill. At the beginning, you might pick the former. A flat trail will be easy on the body and help you get used to the process. But as you get better at your workout, you might try the latter. Going uphill or picking a challenging terrain can take your walking up a notch and help you burn more calories overall.

Be Patient

Because walking is a low-impact exercise, it might take some time before you see significant results. But don’t be fooled; it’s definitely working! Be patient with the walking process. Keep going, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Walking works, but it requires consistency and patience to see the biggest and best results.

Take Friends

Almost everything is better when you have good company, and walking is no exception. Because walking is easier on the body than many other exercises, it’s an enjoyable workout to bring friends along. Ask your best friends or relatives to hit the trail with you. Take your four-legged friend. Taking friends can make it more fun, which makes it more likely that you’ll stick with it for the long haul.

There are a million reasons why walking is a good idea. It’s healthy, it’s low-impact, it’s enjoyable. Take your pick! Use these tips to make walking work for you. You may find that walking makes your health improved, your perspective more positive, and your life just a little better every day.

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Chapel Hill, N.C.