Walking, for sure, is one hobby that is fun but also comes with good physical and mental benefits. That being said, you may want to make your walking hobby a habit.
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What is a hobby
A hobby is a fun, entertaining, or relaxing activity that you do in your spare time. It allows you to spend your time more meaningfully, doing something other than work, or simply taking your mind off things in general.
A hobby is any activity that you enjoy doing in your spare time. It’s a plus when your hobby is not only enjoyable but beneficial to your physical and mental health.
There are a number of hobbies that can provide you with this fantastic combination. However, you might want to think about taking up walking as a hobby. Because it is one that you can easily get into with little preparation.
Why a walking?
The best argument for why walking is a great hobby to pursue is that it is something that anyone can do. We all know how to walk, so there is no learning curve.
Also, a walking hobby also does not necessitate the purchase of any special equipment. Some hobbies, on the other hand, can be expensive due to the materials, equipment, or gear required to get started.
A walking hobby requires only a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, and a reusable water bottle.
Furthermore, walking is a low-impact exercise. It is a good alternative for people who do not enjoy strenuous physical activity as well as those who have health issues such as arthritis or knee, ankle, or back problems.
Benefits of walking
If the reasons for choosing a walking hobby listed above aren’t enough to persuade you, here are some more.
Consider the following extra advantages of walking. These may convince you to put on those sneakers.
Boosts energy
Walking may provide a more effective energy boost than drinking coffee. Because it increases the flow of oxygen through the body. Increased oxygen levels improve our performance by providing energy to both our mind and body.
Walking can also raise cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels. These hormones contribute to an increase in energy levels.
Helps with fitness
Walking, as physical activity, also helps a person stay fit and healthy. Done on a regular basis, walking reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Incidentally, walking has also been shown to improve strength and endurance, as well as body mass index and longevity.
Better sleep
Walking helps you sleep better at night. Because it improves the body’s production of melatonin, the body’s natural hormone that helps control the sleep cycle.
Improves the immune system
Your immune system will benefit from your walking hobby as well.
Walking on a regular basis increases blood flow, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. This reduced inflammation, in turn, will boost the immune system by allowing immune cells to regenerate on a regular basis.
Regular regeneration makes for a more effective immune system.
Improves your mood
Again, walking causes your body’s blood flow circulation to increase.
This increased blood circulation has a beneficial effect on your central nervous response system. The central nervous system is ultimately responsible for mood behavior.
Walking helps to calm your nerves and reduces stress, resulting in a better mood.
Promotes mindfulness
Walking not only improves mood but also allows the mind to be more mindful.
Take the time to observe your surroundings as you walk. This will train your mind to be more in tune with its surroundings.
It also encourages the mind to be present and at the moment, resulting in greater clarity and focus.
Promotes creativity
Because of the free flow of information and ideas, while walking, your brain is much more inclined to creativity. This was discovered in a Stanford study that compared people’s creativity levels while walking versus sitting.
Walking increased creative inspiration by an average of 60%, according to the findings.
Another good benefit that walking provides is awareness. It allows your brain to be more observant and aware of your surroundings.
How to make walking a habit
When it comes to developing something into a habit, the following factors must be considered:
- Cue
- Response, and
- Reward.
And, if I may add another R, it is ‘repetition.’ That is, for a habit loop to become a loop, the response or action must be regular and consistent.
So, here are some ideas to help you make walking a habit.
Develop an effective cue
A cue is either a sound, smell, visual, or any sense that will trigger you to perform the habit.
For example, you may set your alarm to serve as your reminder each morning. When it rings, you will need to get up, put on your walking shoes, and hit the road.
Another cue you may use is to place your walking shoes in a visible area that you can immediately see after waking up. This way, when you see them, you will be reminded to put them on and step out for a walk.
Start small
It is never easy to begin a new habit. This is because the brain perceives it as a novel activity and associates it with ‘difficulty.’
So in order to make your walking habit a success, start small.
Make your walking habit as simple and easy as possible. So that it does not trigger the body’s fight or flight response and cause it to resist the habit.
Begin with the shortest amount of time your body can tolerate. Then gradually increase your limit.
Attach to an existing habit
It will also help to anchor the new habit to an existing one in order for it to stick.
As an example, you could link your walking habit to your meals. That is, schedule your walk before or after breakfast or dinner. Your meals will serve as a reminder to go for a walk.
Track your progress
Track your progress to serve as an immediate reward for your efforts.
To keep track of your habit development, keep a walking habit journal.
A habit journal allows you to track the consistency of your walks as well as the increase in the amount of time you walk. You can also keep track of how you feel and how your body changes as you continue your walking routine.
A pedometer is another tool you can use to track your walking habits. It’s a great way to keep track of how far you’ve walked and how many steps you’ve taken throughout the day.
Develop a good reward system
Rewarding yourself for responding to a cue is an important factor in habit development. That being said, try to develop a good reward system for yourself each time you finish your walk.
When you complete one week of 30 minute walks per day, you could get a pedicure as a reward. Or why not treat yourself to an extra 10 minutes on social media when you increase your time limit from 30 to 45 minutes?
However, keep in mind that the reward should complement rather than contradict your goal. For example, if you want to lose weight by walking, rewarding yourself with a doughnut is counterproductive.
Summary
To summarize, a hobby is something you do in your spare time for fun and entertainment. Walking is a great hobby that is fun, beneficial to overall health, and easier to develop into a habit.
Furthermore, walking has the following advantages:
- Boosts energy,
- Helps with fitness,
- Better sleep,
- Improves the immune system,
- Improves your mood,
- Promotes mindfulness, and
- Promotes creativity.
Finally, here are some suggestions for developing a walking habit.
- Develop an effective cue,
- Start small,
- Attach to an existing habit,
- Track your progress, and
- Develop a good reward system.
Please share your thoughts or ideas about How To Make Your Walking Hobby A Habit in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
How To Develop A Good Walking Habit
Walking As A Hobby What Is The Impact
Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
9 Effective Habits For A Happy Life
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
How To Break 9 Bad Habits That Keep You Down
Outside references:
Habits: How They Form And How To Break Them
30 Benefits of Walking 30 Minutes a Day
Walking for Exercise
Stanford study finds walking improves creativity