5 Ways to Make Walking by Yourself More Fun
Written By: Taylor Rao
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Going for a walk is a great form of exercise. While it might seem mundane, it’s a cardiovascular physical activity that can increase your heart rate, burn calories and lower your blood pressure when you stick to a consistent walking routine. There are health benefits that come along with a nice, long walk as well as opportunities to boost your mood, increase energy levels and simply dedicate time to enjoying the scenery around you –wherever you are.
Seriously, you can walk around your neighborhood right outside your own front door or switch it up by exploring a nearby town, walking when you’re on vacation, or spending your lunch break from work doing a low-impact exercise.
But here’s the thing. Not everyone sees going for a walk as an enjoyable, peaceful activity. What if it feels like a chore? Well, there are enough perks that it’s worth finding some ways to make walking by yourself more fun so that you can make a habit of it and reap the benefits.
Set a fitness goal and track your activity
If a walk just seems like an endless stroll with no finish line, it can be a little difficult to get motivated and start your journey. Instead, fire up your competitive spirit and set a goal on your Apple Watch or similar fitness tracker, or if you don’t have one –just set a goal in your mind. A few ideas:
● I want to walk one mile per day
● I want to spend 45 minutes outdoors each day
● I want to reach 10,000 steps today (and factor in a walk to help you get there)
By setting a fitness goal, whether it’s steps taken, calories burned or simply time spent walking as your activity, you can keep yourself accountable and have fun while doing it. You might find yourself even surpassing your goals once you get in the zone and start to see how good it is for you.
Change up your scenery
When you’re in the car driving, what are the things you find yourself staring out the window to see? Is it beautiful houses in a neighborhood, new construction, and development happening in your town or is it nature and outdoor scenery? Instead of taking in those signs by car, choose those locations when it’s time to go for a walk. That way, when you are walking around, you can see things that inspire you and make you feel good. You’ll be learning a lot about the changes going on in your community, getting ideas for how to decorate your house, or relaxing in nature if you visit a local park or walking trail.
If you are going for a few walks per week, try to hit each type of scenery and see which you prefer. And remember that walking is a free activity and something you can do anywhere –even a walk around the mall is great exercise and can be a more cozy, indoor location if cold weather isn’t for you.
Tune into an audiobook or podcast
Many of us don’t love to sit (or walk) with our own thoughts for an extended period of time, and instead, you can entertain yourself with someone else’s voice in an audiobook or podcast for when you are walking solo. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out audiobooks.com where you can access thousands of pieces of audio-driven content, from books and magazines to news and even meditation.
If you listen to your favorite podcast while on a walk, it’s also a great way to keep yourself on a schedule and stick to a consistent walking routine since most podcasts release an episode at the same time every week (or more). When a new episode drops, that’s your queue to make time in your schedule to go for a walk, stream the latest show and stay caught up with your favorite personalities and podcast hosts.
Buy some new workout gear
You know what they say when you look good, you feel good. And sometimes, if you treat yourself to some new clothes for an occasion, you can feel more motivated to utilize the merchandise and also look good while you’re getting your workout on. Don’t underestimate the power that walking as a workout can have!
Having the right clothing and footwear is especially important if you live in a colder climate and want to walk outdoors during the fall and winter months. Do some research and see what type of shoes are best for the terrain you typically walk (on pavement, in the woods, etc.), and invest in a pair that will get you through every mile. Consider other accessories such as hats and gloves, scarves, or layering pieces to make an outdoor walk feel as comfortable as possible so you can reach your goals and keep going rather than turn around because it’s too cold.
Bring your pet (or a friend, or a friend with a pet)
This might seem obvious, but you don’t have to walk alone. If you are more interested in a social setting for your daily stroll, invite a friend from work, or a family member, or bring your pet with you if you have one at home.
Dogs need to be walked daily, and having a pet serves as some of the best motivation possible to make sure you get out and get it done, not only for yourself but for them. If you’re not a dog person or a pet owner just yet, bring someone with you who has a dog and could use the opportunity to get out of the house and spend some time exercising and socializing all at once.
Going for a walk is a great way to get to know someone or spend time being active and enjoying a healthy balance of conversation and silence spent enjoying the atmosphere and scenery.
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