The Pleasure in Taking Long Walks

Wonder how I came about the idea of Long Walks? 

The simple answer is “I was influenced” and My God, what a great influence! 

As a teenager, I loved taking evening strolls in gardens, places surrounded by trees and flowers. As a student, walks were unavoidable and sometimes an activity of leisure.  

Not until a few years ago did I start enjoying it and even looking forward to it. The greatest influence came from taking Long walks with my partner.

Working 9-5 on weekdays and at the end of each day, exhaustion sets in. On weekends, the only thing coming to mind is rest, visiting places, attending events or making more money. This is the experience of an average person. The daily routine is moving from your house, work or event to your car, bus or uber, giving you less walking time. 

There are so many benefits to taking long walks and I’ll share them with you.

1. Long walks are great date ideas that get your love life moving

There is something called a “Walking Date”. It’s just as the name implies. You and your partner head out to places and learn about one another while taking a walk.

Time goes fast while you are working and hustling, and you sometimes don’t get to spend quality time catching up and rubbing your minds with your partner. Walking dates in the park, in your environment, in a botanical garden gives you ample time to dive into deep conversations, hold hands and enjoy nature. 

My husband and I realized that we bond more and get clarity on challenging issues while taking long walks. We spend a lot of time laughing and discovering new things about each other during these walks. This is one of our favourite activities to date.

Studies have shown that walking is a natural mood-booster, so doing this with a date will put both of you in a better emotional state.

2. Long walks boost creative thinking

Great ideas are born while walking. Do you agree?

While walking, you are less conscious of the process and your attention wanders to different realms of the world. The fresh air calms your brain and mind giving you a fresh perspective. If you are a creative person, long walks might just be what you need.

3. Long walks give room for discovery

You get to see new things and explore new places while walking. There were times I took long walks and discovered mini-libraries, parks, cafes, and botanical gardens. One time, My husband and I saw a nice book store while walking through London bridge. We saw a book titled “The Couple’s Workbook” and card games we could play as couples. It was definitely memorable. Use your walk as an opportunity to explore your environment, enjoy nature, and get to meet new people. 

4. Long walks Improve Human Health

Walking sets off several processes that contribute directly to your sense of happiness and well-being. Just 30 minutes of walking does wonders for the heart, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and improves sleep quality, blood circulation, and digestion. There are numerous health benefits to walking, all you need do is a start.

5. Long walks increase physical fitness

Regular walking can help in reaching your fitness goal. It strengthens the bones and muscles of the limbs thereby increasing muscle endurance. People who practice walking regularly have good balance and maintain a healthy weight. Long walks can be beneficial in losing weight and trimming your waistline. 

An activity with this much benefit is something worth doing. Get up and take that walk.