Are you too busy to go for morning walks? A few other ways to keep moving

Doctors say that walking inside the house or office or climbing stairs may give the same benefits as morning walks. Photo: iStock/ljubaphoto

Fitness gurus have always spoken highly of the benefits of morning walks to maintain physical and mental health. Walking can strengthen muscles and bones, prevent brain shrinkage, and reduce the risk of diabetes. It's not merely a form of exercise but a key to happiness. The blood flow improves while walking and reduces high blood pressure. Moreover, walking releases endorphin hormones, which are known as natural painkillers. Walking can make you relaxed and happy, too. Fitness enthusiasts often try to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.

Too busy to go for a walk
Pressed for time to enjoy a morning walk? Doctors say that walking inside the house or office or climbing stairs may give the same benefits as morning walks. Exercise of any kind helps burn unwanted calories from the body. You can use a fitness watch to see whether you can achieve the 10,000 steps mark by walking inside your house. Walking a few steps indoors after dinner aids digestion. Besides, walking while talking on a mobile phone can also burn calories. If you need to communicate with your colleague sitting a few feet away, walking to him may be better than calling him on the phone. You can even attend meetings by standing or walking. Shopping at the malls or retail stores offers you the chance to walk around. Instead of using lifts at the shopping malls, try to climb the stairs as much as possible to maintain fitness.

Indoor marathons
During the pandemic, many people even participated in mini-marathons inside their homes. From 5k runs to 42k marathons, people attempted outdoorsy workouts in the indoor spaces to add oomph to their locked-down days. If your mini indoor walks excite you, you can try using the little areas you have inside your apartments and courtyards to try walks or runs of longer distances. If continuous walks and runs in these spaces bore you, divert your thoughts by listening to music or podcasts. If your pace is really slow, you can even talk to someone while attempting the goal. 

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