Taking a daily walk — especially for folks who spend most of their workday in front of a computer screen or at a desk — is one of the best ways to both get moving and get some fresh air. ZOZOFIT understands that it is important to combat our sedentary lifestyles, especially since we all need at least thirty minutes of exercise every day. Since walking is so accessible for many, it remains one of the easiest ways to get in that bit of movement. 

Most people enjoy taking walks around their neighborhood. It’s nice to be able to wave at your neighbors and see the plants and animals that you share a community with. Even if you live in the city, being outside and seeing the sunshine has its benefits. But, if you are walking the same route everyday, your walks might get monotonous. This can make it hard to want to put on your walking shoes and head out the front door, so you need to make sure that you are always doing things to keep your walks interesting. 

Once you know how to make your daily walks more exciting, you’ll never want to give up this important habit! 

Walk a New Route 

When you notice you’re getting bored of your daily walks, the first thing you should try to bring some excitement back to this habit is walking a new route. Whether you live in the city, a suburban neighborhood, or out in the country, trying out a new route for your walk will help you beat the boredom. You’ll be able to get a change of scenery while exploring a new-to-you area on foot, maybe for the first time. 

If you’re unsure of what route to take, take a look at Google Maps or another GPS service that will let you map out a path. This will help you see if routes have sidewalks — or if there are any foot or bike paths that you can walk on. For anyone who really needs a change of page, you might consider driving someplace new for your walk once or twice a week. You could choose a local park with lots of paths or a neighborhood that you’ve always wanted to visit. 

Make it a Social Activity 

Consider inviting a friend to walk with you! Not only will you both be getting some much-needed exercise, you’ll have the opportunity to catch up and spend time with someone outside of the usual social meet-up spots. This is especially a great idea if you’re wanting to spend time with friends outside of bars and restaurants. You and your friend could also meet up to walk at different spots, like parks and trails, and then continue the social after afterward by stopping at the local juice or smoothie bar. 

If you want to keep walking in your neighborhood, but don’t have a friend that lives nearby, now might be the time to chat up that friendly neighbor! Walking with your neighbors and other people in your neighborhood can help you form stronger community bonds. 

Listen to a Walking Meditation 

Walking meditations have gained popularity in recent years because they provide a space for movement while also grounding and centering your mind. Don’t worry if you’re new to meditation. You don’t have to be an expert in order to start doing walking meditation. You just need an open mind and a willingness to try something new. 

When you’re just starting out, we suggest using a meditation app. An app will guide you through the meditation so you don’t have to worry that you might be doing something wrong. The meditation guide will also cue you at specific moments, as well as remind you to bring your focus back to your movement and breath. 

If you’re a seasoned practitioner of meditation, then you should be ready to guide yourself through walking meditation. Think about a walking meditation like mindful walking. Instead of letting your mind wander off, you want to continue to bring your focus back to your movements — one foot in front of the other — as well as your breath and any sensory experiences you might be having. The key is to stay in the moment, which will help center your mind, bringing you focus, clarity, and energy. 

Watch a TV Show or Movie 

Sometimes all you want to do is plop down on the couch and turn on your current show or a movie you’re excited about, especially if you’ve just had a long day. If this sounds like you, it might be time to take your show or movie on the walk with you — on the treadmill, that is. 

Set up your TV, phone, iPad, or laptop in front of your treadmill, grab some headphones (or turn the volume up on the speakers), press play, and start walking. Walking while watching something distracts your mind and often takes your attention away from the activity. When your walks start to feel like slogs that take forever, distracting yourself by watching something interesting might be the best way to motivate yourself to keep going. 

One great thing about walking on a treadmill while watching something is that it can be done no matter what the weather is! Also, shows and movies are great “timers.” Maybe you want to walk for as long as your 90-minute movie or watch two episodes of your favorite show. If you need even more motivation, maybe challenge yourself to only watch a new episode of that addictive drama you want to binge watch when you’re walking. 

Walking is important to your overall fitness 

Walking is incredibly important to your overall fitness because it is a way to stay moving every day, regardless of the intensity of your workout for the day. It also helps us keep a baseline of conditioning and build an overall active, fit lifestyle. When fitness is important to you, then incorporating daily fitness like walking is a no brainer. 

It’s also important to include fitness tracking into your routine, since tracking is the best way to see how you are improving and your fitness is changing over time. Using a tool like the ZOZOFIT app with the ZOZOSUIT can help you see changes in your body composition and body fat percentage, which are some of the best ways to understand how your fitness is impacting your body.