Are you ready for National Walking Month?
Updated: May 25
Here at UCU, we want to celebrate National Walking Month which takes place for the whole of May.
Not only is getting outside for some movement great for your general health but taking a short break away from sitting at your desk for long periods of time also boosts your energy levels.
Walking and movement increases blood flow to your brain and taking regular breaks has been shown to boost performance productivity.
Some companies have introduced activity-permissive workstations to reduce sedentary behaviour enabling office staff to choose to either sit or stand at their workstation for desk-based tasks.
Building in an occasional 5-minute break to take a walk away from your desk also benefits your brain, eyes and body posture.
Vanessa and Nicholas Peat, founders of Uniquely Created U, enjoy taking a moment away from their desks and busy working environment every day to take their cute little dog for a quick walk in the beautiful surroundings at Blisworth Hill Offices.
One of our Team Members, Alison, meets with her daughter one day each week after work to go for a walk. Not only does this contribute to her weekly activity plan but it is great for her mental health too by also providing the opportunity to chat about what they have been doing since they last met.
Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health.
If you have 20 minutes each day to go for a walk this can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, muscle power and endurance and help improve a number of diseases including high blood pressure. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers.
There are many ways to incorporate some general movement time into your everyday routine, whatever your fitness level and wherever you live. There really is something for everyone.
Ten simple tips for adding some movement into your routine during May.
1. Stroll around your garden or local area to enjoy some outside space.
2. Walk to your local shops instead of using the car.
3. Invite a friend for a walk, get fresh air and have a chance to chat.
4. Arrange a work meeting with a colleague outside, instead of in an office.
5. Volunteer to take a friend’s dog for a walk or go for a walk with them.
6. Walk to work.
7. Join a local walking group.
8. Walk your children to school before travelling to work.
9. Go for an evening stroll.
10. Volunteer to go litter picking in your local community.
Simply build small changes into your daily routine until they become the norm.
To discuss how regular exercise can help you both physically and mentally please contact our dedicated UCU Team and they will work alongside you to develop a plan that suits your unique situation.
#Walking #Exercise #NationalWalkingMonth