When the temperature plummets its tempting to curl up in a foetal position and hibernate until the seasons change, but did you know winter is the perfect time for recharging?
While walking in cool temperatures can feel like a slap in the face, it can also be one of the best decisions for your health! You don’t need to walk for hours to feel the benefits, even 20 minutes a day can be enough to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle.
- YOU WILL BURN MORE CALORIES – Because your body must work harder to maintain your core temperature, you will burn more calories and that’s a bonus for everyone.
- YOU WILL BOOST YOUR BRAIN – Cooler temperatures can help you think more clearly. Making time to walk through the day can help recharge your cognitive function.
- YOU WILL SLEEP LIKE A BABY – Exercise boosts the natural effects of sleep hormones like melatonin, so going for a brisk walk in the evening will help you sleep soundly through the night.
- MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT – The ultimate reward for daily walking has shown that people who exercise regularly have a lower body mass index.
- REDUCE STRESS – Spending time in nature, breathing fresh air and absorbing vitamin D from sunshine all increases blood flow to the brain, boosts production of feel-good hormones like serotonin and endorphins that improve our sense of well-being and general mood.
There is a plethora of reasons why walking can significantly improve your health and other benefits include reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, regulating cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes, improving heart and lung fitness, strengthening bones and increase muscle mass as well as improvements to mental health and managing joint pain.
Walking is the perfect time to unwind and appreciate the environment around you. If you are a morning walker, you can spend this time planning and problem solving for your day ahead.
For those that don’t like to walk alone, find a friend or a social group to meet up with regularly to enjoy the benefits of camaraderie and solving all the world’s problems.
Don’t forget to support your body with nourishing foods during the cooler weather. Soups, stews, and baked dinners are ideal and keeping hydrated is also important as we don’t always feel thirsty, but our body still requires adequate fluids to function at its best.
Supporting our joint and skin health is important throughout the year, but winter usually demands a little more attention. Keeping joints lubricated and skin hydrated can improve mobility, flexibility, and collagen repair, all the age defying ingredients for living a long healthy life.
Ultimately the very best benefit from winter walking is the improvement to our mental health and sense of well-being. People who participate in daily exercise tend to have a more positive outlook on life, fewer health complaints and bounce back more quickly from any health setbacks they may encounter.
The only thing left to do is grab the Ugg boots and set the alarm clock. Step outside your comfort zone and get winter walking!
