Warmer weather, longer hours of daylight, beautiful flowering plants and leafing out trees—it’s the perfect time of year to get outside and go for a walk. And if you need a little additional incentive, May is National Walking Month! Walking is a great form of exercise for most people—you don’t need any equipment beyond decent shoes, you don’t need to be a part of a team to participate, and you don’t need to be athletically gifted. It’s just so easy—you just put on your shoes and walk out the door!
Walking has enormous physical and mental health benefits. According to Harvard Health Publishing, walking provides some surprising benefits including counteracting the effects of weight-promoting genes, taming your sweet tooth, reducing the risk of developing breast cancer, easing joint pain, and boosting immune function.
Walking gets you outdoors where you can reconnect with nature, marvel at the antics of birds, squirrels and other critters, admire the blooms, and soak up a little vitamin D. Walking is also a wonderful way to alleviate stress, which is particularly helpful as we head into finals. So lace up those shoes and head out for a walk—you’ll enjoy every step! And before you go, have a look at some of the library’s walking-related books on our WU Reads Reading Guide.
For more information on walking, see the following resources:
Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking
6 Unexpected Health Benefits of Walking: https://www.realsimple.com/health/fitness-exercise/walking-benefits
Walking: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/walking/index.htm