The pandemic has denied us the freedom to go out. These are worrisome times and the need to take care of our wellbeing is of utmost importance. Going out for short walks or some sort of exercise is important. Although many of us are already taking daily fitness classes in the comfort of our living rooms, going out becomes essential as fresh air can help clear your mind and increase oxygen intake. Going out for long hikes might not be possible at this time, but you can take out some time for a short walk from your busy schedule. Keep the social distance when out walking, and despite the many restrictions, we must take advantage of any opportunity to look after our physical and mental well-being. Let us discuss some of the health benefits of walking to get you motivated.

  1. Improves physical health

A good brisk walk gets your blood pumping and increases the heart rate. It is a great form of aerobic exercise to maintain blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing heart disease. You can start with a short 15-minute walk and get used to it so you’ll be able to walk longer. A brisk walk has a significant effect on overall fitness and helps maintain body weight. Do not let the pandemic keep you from enjoying some fresh air.

  1. Improves mental health

In addition to overall physical fitness, a walk can also boost your mental well-being. Even in normal times, mental well-being has been necessary; the dire times of this pandemic have made it more essential for taking care of our mental health. A short walk can help clear your mind and improve your mood. Staying indoors all the time, drowned in work or studies can surely use a change in the mood. We all suffer from anxiety or stress in our lives which makes it essential to take those extra steps for relaxation.

  1. Reduces health risk

Walking can boost your immune system and also ease joint pains. It lubricates and strengthens the muscles that support the joints. Going out for a walk will increase oxygen levels. All the increased levels of hormones and oxygen reduce the risk for many diseases like a cold/flu or any heart disease. Walking can also help you maintain or lose weight and burn calories, of course depending on the speed, distance, and calorie consumption.

  1. Can help you sleep better

Continually sitting in front of devices and computers can affect your sleep. Walking and regular exercise can prepare your body for a good night’s sleep. It helps in getting rid of body stress and boosts the secretion of melatonin, which is a natural hormone that gets our body to sleep. Hit that magic number of steps you achieve every day to keep yourself motivated and up on your toes.

The outbreak of coronavirus has brought uncertain times but life has not stopped. We continue to work, study, and do our everyday chores so we should keep up with our physical well-being as well. Going out is not an option but we can take out time to incorporate regular exercise into our routines or start with a brisk walk to keep things smooth and our lifestyle healthy.