Some people love to exercise in the morning, others prefer doing it during the evening. But did you know that starting your day with a walk offers plenty of health benefits? Take a look.
Boost Energy Levels
Starting your day with a walk leads to increased energy throughout the day. A study has found that adults who walk for 20 minutes first thing in the morning had more energy especially if they walk outdoors instead of on a treadmill.
Enhance Your Mood
Morning walks also positively impact your mood and well-being. Walking for 20-30 minutes in the morning 5x a week has been found to:
- Improve self-esteem
- Boost mood
- Reduce stress
- Alleviate anxiety
- Decrease fatigue
- Ease depressive symptoms
Achieve Your Daily Physical Activity Goal
Many people end up not getting enough exercise due to family and work obligations. But by simply walking 30 minutes first thing every morning 5 days a week, you will have met the required amount of time to engage in exercise each week.
Aid in Weight Loss
Adding a morning walk into your routine can help you with your weight loss goals. Walking at a moderate pace for 30 minutes burns as much as 150 calories.
Prevent Health Conditions
Walking offers numerous health benefits, like strengthening your immune system and reducing your risk of developing certain health conditions. For example, walking for 30 minutes every day lwoers your risk of heart disease by about 19%.
Strengthen Muscles
Walking can contribute to the strengthening of your leg muscles. For optimal results, maintain a moderate to brisk pace during your walk. Consider diversifying your routine by incorporating activities such as climbing stairs, traversing hills, or walking on an inclined treadmill.
Include leg-strengthening exercises like squats and lunges several times per week to enhance muscle tone.
Enhance Mental Clarity
A morning walk can enhance your mental clarity and ability to focus throughout the day. A recent study discovered that older adults who commenced their day with a morning walk displayed improved cognitive function compared to those who remained sedentary.
Walking may also stimulate creative thinking. Research indicates that walking promotes a flow of ideas, potentially enhancing problem-solving skills more effectively than when sitting or remaining sedentary. This effect is especially pronounced when walking outdoors.
Next time you have a morning meeting or brainstorming session, suggest a walking session with your colleagues, if feasible.
Improve Sleep Quality
Engaging in a walk in the morning may result in improved sleep quality later at night. In one study it was found that those who walked or exercised in the morning slept better than those who exercised in the evening.
Beat the Heat
Walking in the morning allows you to exercise before the temperature rises too high. Just make sure you are properly hydrated especially during summer.
If you don’t have time to workout in the morning, then you can always workout in the evening. It doesn’t matter when or where you exercise – at home, in the park, at World Gym. The important thing is that you have some form of physical activity regularly.