A Walk Alone: Off-Season WLC Skill Practice

The Off-Season WLC Skill Practices are mini-challenges intended to help you fine-tune different aspects of your health and wellness. Offered between Challenges, these weekly practices address fitness, nutrition, stress reduction, productivity, and personal connection — because health is about far more than food and the gym (and we could all use a little practice)

Take a 10-Minute Walk Alone Each Day This Week

Simple Instructions:

1. For the next seven days, take a 10-minute walk each day (with no particular destination in mind).
2. This is a walk for its own sake (rather than walking to get somewhere), and should be considered personal time.
3. Use your walk for reflection, for generating calm, or as a break between activities. If you’re up for it, you can even try a walking meditation.
4. If you live somewhere with poor weather, consider walking anyway — just be sure to dress for the conditions.

Notes for This Skill Practice:

• The intention of this practice is to see if a short, daily walk helps your mindset. You might find yourself less stressed, more focused, and even a bit fitter after creating a regular walking habit.
• After seven days, you might choose to continue your daily walk — or you might let it go.  A quick tip: after the first week, see if you’re genuinely looking forward to your “walk to nowhere.” If so, consider continuing with your 10-minute journey.

Why Is This Skill Practice Important?

There are numerous mental and physical benefits to walking, some of which might surprise you:

• Walking has been shown to reduce sugar cravings and joint pain, improve immune functioning, and counteract weight promoting genes.
• Leisurely walking reduces depressive symptoms in women.
• Walking regularly can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
• Walking can prevent cognitive decline in older adulthood, even stabilizing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Regardless of why you begin a regular walking practice, you’ll likely find benefits that go far beyond the practical. Give it a shot for a week, and see if this is something you’ll add to your life — for the January Challenge and beyond.