Many great things come out of doing one particular activity for just 20 minutes a day. And really, 20 minutes is nothing! Think about what you do with the rest of your hour-long lunch break once you’ve finished eating… or what you do after dinner in the evenings. You usually just sit, chillax, chat it up with others, check your email, jump on Facebook or Instagram or watch TV, right? These are all things that can wait 20 minutes for you to do an activity that will change your life for the better in more ways than one. What is this activity that I speak of? Believe it or not, it’s walking!
Here’s why you should add this super duper, easy breezy activity to your daily list of “things to do” ….
You will live longer than some skinny folks – Check out this mind-blowing discovery: researchers say that being inactive is TWICE as deadly to your health as being obese! Which means that even if your waistline is naturally nice and trim, a 20-minute walk could add years to your life over the skinny-minnie who sits through her lunch break every day.
It strengthens important relationships – Taking a fast-paced walk with your significant other, kids and even co-workers is a great way to spend time with one another. It helps keep lines of communication open without the distractions of TV, phones or computers. And if you have a dog who loves to get out, especially a high energy one (like our Jack Russell, Buddy!), taking them along for your daily walks can help keep them calm and happy, which makes for a more peaceful home environment!
Enjoying a nice walk while on our honeymoon in Stowe,Vermont!
You’re more likely to be disease free – Dementia, type 2 diabetes, asthma, heart disease, colon and breast cancer; numerous studies show that your risk for all of these diseases is greatly reduced when consistent physical activity such as walking is incorporated into your life!
It gives your brain a clean slate – BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) – are released while walking (or doing any exercise for that matter). These proteins repair memory neurons in your brain and act as a “reset button” of sorts. That’s why you your mind always feels clearer after exercising!
It’s an energizer – Walking boosts circulation and increases oxygen supply helping you to feel more alert. Sounds like you could save yourself three bucks a day by skipping the afternoon Starbucks and heading out for a walk, instead!
Out for a walk with Roadie in Fairfax, VA – Fall of 2011
Life starts to feel easier – It’s amazing how just one brisk 20-minute walk can help make life’s problems feel less severe and easier to solve. If you make time first thing in the morning for this activity, you’re almost guaranteed to start your day off on the right foot, (so to speak!).
You’re less likely to get sick – Researchers at the University of Massachusetts medical school found that those who walk every day had 25% fewer colds than those who were sedentary.
You can save money on therapy – Psychologists at the University of Illinois found that after six weeks of taking a daily 20-minute power walk, the results were comparable to a course of psychotherapy!
Physical activity doesn’t need to be hard or inconvenient. All you need is a good pair of sneakers and the determination to fit a fast-paced walk into most days of your life. After all, there are 1440 minutes in a day. Give yourself the gift of a longer, healthier, happier life by using 20 of those minutes to take an extremely valuable power walk. You never know, it could become the favorite part of your day.
Please consult your doctor or medical professional before performing any exercises or trying any weight loss techniques shown or described on this website, as there may be personal medical or health considerations that only your doctor or health professional is competent to assess.