11 easy ways to make walking more fun

Whether you walk for recreation, physical fitness or simply as a means of getting from point A to point B, the health benefits are the same. Besides getting your heart pumping, walking can boost your mood and energy, while promoting a good night’s sleep. It’s a popular activity, as well, as we strive to reach 10,000 steps a day.

But as COVID-19 has made our world feel smaller, the routes we normally take on our walks can start feeling a bit, well… Boring. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to make this daily dose of physical activity more satisfying. The key is to make walking a workout for the mind and soul as well as for the body. The following tips are sure to add spring to your step.

Learn the fundamentals of amateur meteorology, and you’ll never find your walk boring again! Keep your eyes on the skies: what can you tell from the clouds? Which way is the wind blowing? Is a front coming in? Just how accurate was the morning weather forecast, anyway?

Even if you tend to walk solo, chances are you’ll encounter some feathered friends along the route. Keep a checklist of the birds you see on your walk. How many different species can you identify, and how do their numbers change with the seasons?

Don’t miss these photos of the rarest animals on earth.

Note the street names you pass on your walking route. Where do they come from? What’s the story of your neighbourhood, as told by the names of the streets, parks and other features you encounter?

Here are some more tricks to make your daily walking habit even healthier.

Why not shake up your usual route and walk to your local farmers’ market to pick up something fresh and tasty for dinner? If you don’t have a market within walking distance, make it a point to park a few blocks away from your favourite vendors so you’ll still get a good walk in.

Wondering how to store fresh food so it lasts longer? Find out here.

You don’t have to be house hunting to have fun speculating on real estate! The next time you encounter a ‘for sale’ sign on your walk, guess the property’s asking price, then check the listing when you get back home. How close can you get?

From wearable step counters to cool apps that help you stay motivated, the latest technology can be a fun way to spice up your walk. The free ParticipACTION app, for instance, is a handy fitness tracker that can record of all your steps and movement. Set daily, weekly and monthly step challenges for yourself, and use the app to gauge your progress.

Check out these golden rules of fitness.

Invite a friend to join you on your walk – while physically distancing, of course. Not only will the conversation put some pep back in your step, but bringing a friend along will also keep you committed to walking on a regular basis.

Find out what your walking style can reveal about your health.

Studies repeatedly show that the more parents move, the more their kids move, too. The next time you’re walking with young ones, keep their minds as active as their legs by engaging them in a classic game like I-spy.

Discover what happens to your body when you start walking 10,000 steps a day.

What could be more motivating than an icy cool destination on a sweltering summer’s day? Plan a refreshing ‘cooling station’ stop along your walking route, whether it’s the local (air-conditioned!) supermarket, a shaded park bench or a splash pad.