Retirement offers the perfect opportunity to embrace healthier habits, and walking is one of the simplest, most effective ways to do so – as retiree Gloria Gibson knows well from experience. From boosting heart health and managing weight to improving mood and reducing loneliness, daily walks can transform your well-being and enrich your everyday life.
Health Benefits of Walking
Walking comes with numerous health advantages that can be beneficial at any age but especially as we get older. One of these is weight management. Ageing slows down metabolism, which can increase the risk of putting on extra weight. The best way to battle this is to keep moving, and taking a small daily walk can be a great way to incorporate exercise into daily life. Active weight management can also lower the risk of developing conditions such as type two diabetes, as it is more likely to affect adults who are overweight or obese.
Walking is also great for cardiovascular health, as a brisk walk brings the heart rate up and help to keep it strong. Similarly, walking can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, and even certain cancers.
Walking is also known to have mental health benefits. As with almost any exercise, walking releases endorphins, which reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm. Paired together with the great outdoors, fresh air, and sunshine, walking is an effective way to reduce stress and tension. It can also be a great way to socialize and can help to battle the feelings of loneliness and isolation that retirees sometimes face.
How to Get Started
To get started with a new walking routine, it is wise to take things slowly and see what level of activity is suitable to start off with. Ideal walking pace will leave a person slightly out of breath, but still able to hold a conversation. However, if that seems too much, there are other ways to get started.
Walking is a part of our daily routine, so making a deliberate choice to walk to the local shop instead of driving, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can easily start adding up the daily steps.
This new routine does not need to start with daily exercise either; beginning with weekend walks or joining a walking group that meets on a regular basis can be a nice way to ease into a new fitness regime.