30 Minute Walking Challenge - Small Steps to Big Change

We can all fit many things into 30 minutes, like an episode of our favourite TV series, but are these activities good for our mental and physical health? ... Probably not.

When I find a spare 30 minutes I often manage to fill it by watching TV, chatting nonsense on the phone to a friend or ploughing through a packet of biscuits. However, none of these benefit my lifestyle in a positive way. I may think that these habits are helping me to unwind, but in reality, I'm left feeling more overwhelmed, anxious and guilty.

If you find yourself with 30 minutes spare use them to commit to your health and well-being by going for a walk.

Now, I know you're probably thinking "well this seems like a piece of cake and maybe a waste of time... 30 minutes of walking won't change my physical fitness so what's the point?" The truth is I thought the same, but then I discovered that after losing the negative mindset it does change you, one small step at a time. Looking back through all the photos I've taken on my 30 minute walks I'm filled with happiness and a sense of pride, and I've only featured a few of them in this post.

As much as I've tried to commit to working out, I always find myself slacking because I'm not enjoying myself and I'm uninspired. So, I'm starting small with a realistic and achievable goal. I've grown to learn that I'm not the kind of person that can hit the gym a couple of times a week, but I'm OK with that! If I can spend at least 30 minutes a day power walking in the great outdoors then I know I am making positive strides to changing my daily way of life. On top of this, adding a few of my favourite yoga routines into the week means that I am keeping fit in a way that makes me happy and I'm less likely to give up.

At the end of my walk, my head is clear, free from stress and I feel more confident from the inside out. These 30 minutes have come to affect my happiness everyday.

Here are a few hints and tips to get you started:

Get Started - No excuses, after all it's just walking! Make today the day, grab some comfortable trainers, loose clothes and start your walk. I bet you find yourself walking for longer and furhter than you expected to.

Find Time - Fit your walk in before work, on your lunch break or after work and enjoy the sunset. Whatever works best for you.

Get Creative - I love mixing up my routes. One day I'll walk through my neighborhood, the next I'll choose the local park. Look around you and try to discover new views, oddities and landmarks that you haven't noticed before... Explore!

Plug in or Plug Out - Try walking to your favourite tunes then try walking without any media distractions. Just you and the sounds of nature.

So that's it, just 30 minutes a day. You can do it... it's a small goal with heaps of rewards. The challenge is all about the small steps and finding balance, but most importantly doing things that make us happy.

Where are your favourite places to walk? Will you take up the challenge? Please share in the comments below.

K x