Walking to Stay Healthy and Relieve Stress

Did you know that daily walking can promote good health and reduce stress, even during the pandemic? In a recent Facebook Live broadcast that you can watch here, Jessica Lemann of AARP Texas’ Austin office chats with Austin fitness trainer Katie Deolloz of Walking as Practice about how taking a walk around the block can help your mental and physical well-being.

Deolloz has a passion for walking because it is something we are born being able to do. “We have this ability to just step, move, experience life,” she said. “It is also the most accessible form of movement to the greatest number of people, no matter (your) age.”

If you’re committed to the effort, walking is a breeze. For those who do not already have a walking regimen and would like to start, Deolloz offers a few tips. She recommends:

Get 150 minutes of activity each week

· In the U.S., about half of all adults have a preventable chronic disease. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends getting 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week. That’s five, 30-minute walks per week at a brisk pace.

Go where you are

· When walking around your neighborhood, taking the same route can seem repetitive. Just because it’s a routine doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Change up what kind of music you listen to or even which side of the street you walk on.

Schedule your walks

· Making walks a priority can be easier if you actually schedule it. Write it down in your calendar or journal.

Even though people may have a desire to get out more, there still is concern about keeping distance from one another. Deolloz reminds us that on walks, we need to be physically distant but not socially distant. You can socially connect from a safe distance. So don’t be afraid to go outdoors. Vitamin D from sunlight can help to boost your mood. And when walking, make eye contact with others! We aren’t getting as much oxytocin as usual, and a simple smile and wave to a neighbor across the street can help to boost that hormone.

Finally, Deolloz says that in order to “win the morning,” you need to be intentional about what you are doing. Create a routine in your day-to-day life. Wake up, drink water, write in a journal and get moving.

Again, get these tips and more advice by linking here to the AARP Texas Facebook Live conversation with Katie Deolloz.

-- By Morgan Dubose