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By: Katherine G. Huber and Dominique M. Billington
By: Katherine G. Huber and Dominique M. Billington
Walking is essential to all able-bodied human beings. People walk every day - to school, to work, and even just to the dinner table. It’s easy to take walking for granted, but walking can actually be an important form of exercise.
According to NBC News, past studies state that “a daily walk can reduce the risk of stroke in both men and women, reduce the days spent in a hospital each year and can even lower your risk of death by up to 39 percent (when compared with no leisure-time physical activity).” NBC also informs us that “a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that those who adhered to a walking program showed significant improvements in blood pressure, slowing of resting heart rate, reduction of body fat and body weight, reduced cholesterol, improved depression scores with better quality of life and increased measures of endurance.” From these quotes, we can draw the conclusion that walking is healthy, safe, and relaxing.
I’ve actually talked to some people who have gone on walks in Atlanta. Let’s take a look at what they said.
Data 1: “In my opinion I believe walking helps you calm down. It’s just that sometimes I’d get lost or end up somewhere completely different from where I was going.”
Data 2: “I don’t think taking a walk is very helpful. Well, at least emotional-wise. It’s hard to clear your head when you're walking down the street with distractions. One time when I was walking I even saw a car wreck!”
Data 3: “It can clear your mind sometimes, but you really need to plan out when you're going. Especially during COVID. If you go on a walk you should go one hour. That way you won’t forget about something like game night or something.
Walking is something we can do for a long period of time - it doesn’t have to be alone, either. You could take a walk with family and friends, or just by yourself if you want to clear your mind. It’s also a great way to calm yourself down. Research from Very Well fit shows that walking isn’t just an exercise. It can also reduce stress, anxiety and in some cases help people with anger issues calm themselves down. Research also shows walking doesn’t help people calm down in some cases. The reason why is because some people live in the city, (Example New York city) that has a lot of traffic or noise. In stressful situations you’d prefer peace and quiet, right? Another reason that walking isn’t always helpful is because there may be too many distractions. Instead of clearing your mind, you might be thinking about a pressing issue, which won’t help you relax. In these cases, taking a walk isn’t necessarily the best option.
However, walking can be a wonderful way to clear your mind and exercise your body. “Take a walk, clear your head” is a popular saying, and after having gone for a restful stroll, it’s easy to understand why.
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