Take a walk

Learn about the benefits of walking

With the start of school and other increased obligations, the fall season brings a busier pace for many of us. This is coupled with the fact that we are entering the second half of a year that has brought many unique challenges.

I’ve found that the margins in my schedule have decreased significantly, making it difficult to fit in regular walks. I know I’m not alone, but I also know that when life picks up in speed, regular exercise becomes most important.

When I walk for fitness I often think about an infographic that I find empowering. Part of the U of M MHealthy initiative called “Your Body on Walking,” it depicts a walker surrounded by bubble captions detailing the health benefits for brain, heart, bone and mental health, and longevity. One example is that in just two hours of walking a week, stroke risk is reduced by 30 percent.

Taking a step in the direction we want to go can be both metaphorical and literal. When looking at a packed schedule, try to find ways you can spend a few moments doing something that recharges you.

During a particularly busy week, I found that organizing the supplies for my favorite hobby took me out of my busy routine and let me daydream about the time when I could enjoy it.

Excellent quotes on walking abound, but I like one attributed to the poet and mystic Rumi, for the many ways it can be interpreted: “As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.”

To read about the benefits of walking for body and mind, check out neuroscientist Shane O’Mara’s In Praise of Walking: The New Science of How We Walk and Why it is Good for Us. This title and many others are available for contactless pickup at any CADL branch. Visit cadl.org for details.

Cheryl Lindemann is a collection development specialist at Capital Area District Libraries, and a co-host of the Reader’s Roundtable Podcast.