Top 5 Reasons You Should Walk at Lunch
A Healthier Michigan
| 2 min read
Have you heard of National Walk at Lunch Day?
This annual event, created by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, encourages Michigan employees to take part on Wednesday, April 26.
All you have to do to participate is bring your walking shoes to work and step outside on your lunch break for a brisk 30-minute walk.
We think you should make every day a walk-at-lunch day! Here are the top five reasons why:
1. Your health
If you can’t seem to fit exercise in before or after work, walking at lunch is a no-brainer. The health benefits of a simple, brisk walking routine are well-established. Incorporating a once-a-day walk can help you lose or manage weight, prevent conditions such as high blood pressure, strengthen your bones, and improve balance and coordination.
2. Sitting all day is deadly
Even if you do get a workout in during your day, the eight-plus hours you spend sitting at your desk isn’t good for your body and may even counteract that effort at the gym. We’re designed to move! Small bursts of activity during the day go a long way toward improving your health. Step away from your desk. It’ll be there when you get back.
3. Time in nature is good for you
While moving at lunch is good for your body, getting out in nature on your break could be good for your soul. Many studies point to a positive relationship between time spent outdoors and mental well-being.
4. It’s social
Grab your work friends or meet up with others who work close to you to make your walk fun. Regularly meeting up with friends can boost happiness, reduce stress, and improve self-confidence and self-worth, according to the Mayo Clinic.
5. Your brain (and your boss) will thank you
Taking a walking break can actually help improve your focus once you get back to your desk. When you exercise, your body pumps more blood everywhere, including your brain. The extra blood and oxygen you get from exercising can actually help you perform better mentally.
Dust off those walking shoes and get outside on National Walk at Lunch Day or any day you feel like taking a step toward better health!
Related Links:
- Find Your Stride: Walking Workouts for Everybody
- A Reminder of Just How Good Walking is for Our Health
- Translating Calories into Walking Distance is an Idea Whose Time Has Come
Photo credit: Getty Images
