Written by Jan Bruce, CEO and co-founder of meQuilibrium.
It's National Stress Awareness Month, and we're kicking it off with some targeted ideas to help you change your stress response. Starting now. (Find out how to take the 28-day challenge to get off to a running start.)
Your body evolved to do one thing exceedingly well: cope with bouts of acute stress and then recover from it. What your body did not evolve to do is face off with unrelenting stress while sitting in a chair for hours a day. You were designed to move -- more specifically, to walk.
Note, I did not say you were designed to "work out" or "use heavy fitness machinery." That's why if you want to do one thing starting now to relieve physical and mental stress, stand up and walk out the door. And keep walking.
I love to walk. Love it. And as the former publisher of Walking magazine, I know that it's not just a fitness tip, but a lifestyle. Plenty of people make it their main source of exercise, in fact, by making it a part of their everyday lives.
Here are some of the benefits of walking, outlined by the Mayo Clinic:
- Lower your "bad" cholesterol while raising your "good" cholesterol
- Lower your blood pressure
- Reduce your risk of or manage Type 2 diabetes
- Manage your weight
- Improve your mood
- Stay strong and fit
In short, walking can counter the negative effects of stress on your mind, body, and spirit.
How to Make Walking Work for You
- Do some data collection. How much do you walk a day? Find out. Get a pedometer (they're cheap -- around $10), or invest in some even smarter technology like the popular FitBit, which measures steps taken, calories burned, and even clocks your sleep. (You can also connect online and compete with your friends through their interface -- healthy competition at its best.)
A clearer head, a relaxed body, fewer aches and pains -- there's not enough to recommend walking as a great way to hit many stressful birds with one stone. (Learn more tips for coping with stress.)
And if you're serious about reducing your stress levels, take our 28-day challenge. You'll get a free assessment that helps you identify the root causes of your stress and have 28 days of unlimited access to your customized action plan to help you tackle them.
Jan Bruce is CEO and co-founder of meQuilibrium, www.mequilibrium.com, the new digital coaching system for stress, which helps both individuals and corporations achieve measurable results in stress management and wellness.
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