“Be calm. Be kind. Be safe.” - Dr. Bonnie Henry
Walking is one of the most effective remedies and a preventive measure that we all may access at no cost, and improve our health.
It has been backed by so many studies. They show that walking helps us overcome some of the most difficult moments, and in these pandemic times, we all have been living it together.
If you haven’t heard about Twitter yet, let us define it in quite a clichéd way: it is an online platform where people go to express how they feel, what is going on, and in your own style (meaning, don’t be surprised if you find messages to be impolite).
Twitter like many other social media platforms, isn’t real life, but these are places where people go to destress. Sharing your problems, many times helps. Many go on these platforms to read about what others (influencers included) think and sometimes to fight for a point of view. Twitter’s known to be quite the opinion driven, ‘intending to uphold facts’ kind of a platform, and you will be pleased to find out how positively walking has been talked about, especially since COVID-19’s lockdowns.
So, we run a simple search on Twitter with the terms “walk”, and “fresh air” during this one year that definitely set a milestone in our lives. We got thousands of results.
There are few topics that are nicer to read about than how walking encourages everyone to keep going. Oh, and the pictures are so beautiful and encouraging!
We conclude that this reflects how we have been feeling, what we have been using for dealing with the lockdown, the isolation, the staying distanced…we have been going out and walking. We have been starving for fresh air, for a serendipity moment, for hope.
We read that we stopped walking for commuting but we have walked for leisure and wellness. We have been discovering our localities better and ‘claimed’ streets for just trips on-foot.
We found out that one of the benefits of working from home is that we are working from anywhere. No one is stopping us from walking up to a park, setting up our computer, and having a productive hour or two out there. If you think this would be waste of time, think twice: you walked, stretched your legs, had time away from your screen, got out of the house with a purpose, and probably did more work than you would just be sitting at the office staring at your screen.
Some people have switched long sitting meetings for a walking meeting (weather permitting of course). We substituted eating lunch at our desks for a quick take-out run from a new local eatery place every time.
What most people agree to is that we need time away from the screen, even as you are reading this right now, well, on a screen. Moving most of our social interactions to video-conferences and webinars has stressed more than ever on the need to go out and ‘disconnect"‘. And what a better way than going for a short stroll around the neighborhood.
Since gyms and recreation spaces are at limited capacity, people have switched indoor workout for yoga in the park, or a couple of laps around the block instead of the once-beloved treadmill.
Walking helps your mind think clearly and that’s how you find yourself getting the best ideas while walking! Walking with a purpose is highly satisfying. Don’t think twice. Turn off this device and step outside.
Happy Walking!
This blog post is written by BEST’s Isabel Garcia. #walkability
