Written by: Edward Bonett

When we see a doctor, one question the doctor frequently asks is whether we exercise. If we don’t go to a gym, routinely run long distances, or play a sport, we may sheepishly reply not much. However, we may forget or feel it is unworthy to mention the exercise we get from daily walking. Even without an electronic measuring device telling us, daily walking may be a considerable amount and a great benefit.

Don’t discount the benefits of walking. Walking doesn’t cost anything and can be done outdoors or indoors. Studies show that walking helps with your physical and mental wellbeing. Among its benefits, walking gives you a chance to clear your mind or get in better touch with nature. When we walk, we reflect, we recalibrate. It’s especially useful for decompressing after a stressful situation or changing from work mode to home mode.

If you are able, make a conscious decision to walk more by parking a little farther from your destination, using stairs rather than elevators when possible, stepping out for a short walk after dinner, making sure you walk at lunchtime. When you walk in a park, you feel a sense of the Creator. When you walk in your neighborhood, you stay connected to friends, which helps you feel social and part of a community. Step out even when you aren’t feeling up for it. Through walking, you can better keep isolation at bay.

At F4, we recognize that health comes not just through nutrition, but through a well-balanced lifestyle. A step forward is a step in the right direction. Keep walking!