You want to be more active, so you’ve set aside 20 minutes in your day for physical activity.

What do you do in those 20 minutes?

The easiest activity to begin with is a walk around the neighbourhood.  You don’t need to buy expensive gear or “comparison shop” for a place to get a membership pass.  All you need is a sturdy pair of shoes.

The easiest way to make being more active a habit is to make it enjoyable instead of a chore.

If you feel bored out on your walk, consider some of the following options.

Wear earbuds and play music or listen to an audio book.

Vary your route.  Go in different directions or to different places to “shake things up.”  If you’re near Quispamsis, the Qplex has a number of interesting walking trails that will get you out in nature for some mental refreshment as well as physical activity.

Bring a friend or family member to talk to.  Meet up with someone else who’d like to be more active.  Go for a walk after dinner with your kids—spend time with them and help them to get active, too.

Take up a hobby – bird watching, identifying plants, taking photos with your phone, even watching construction in the neighbourhood –  anything to give you something to look for on your walk and provide your mind with a challenge.

Our one caution for walking activities is to think twice about using your cell phone.  When you’re texting and surfing the Internet, your eyes are on your screen and your thoughts are focused almost entirely on the virtual world.  It’s easy to miss real-world dangers, like drop-offs, holes, and cars.

Conversely, this might be a great time for you to use your phone to call someone!  You can have a conversation with your head up and your eyes focused on your surroundings.

Help!  My walk left me sore!

You may feel muscle soreness after your first walk, or after your first three or four days of walking regularly.  Typically it takes 3-4 days for your body to grow accustomed to the new activity.  Don’t give up!

But if you’re feeling significant pain and/or stiffness, having trouble functioning in your daily life, or the soreness lasts for an unusually long time, call Sheppard Chiropractic at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172.

What if it’s time for your walk, you look outside, and…it’s raining?

We’ll tackle this question next week!