It’s well known that there are amazing health advantages when it comes to walking. And with the invention of devices and apps that calculate steps on our phones, there’s never been such a focus on getting our daily recommended steps in! 

But, it’s not just the usual keeping fit, losing weight and firming up muscles that you will benefit from when you include walking in your daily routine. And it’s not just a good way of maintaining health for grown-ups but also great for children. In fact, walking is beneficial for the whole family so don’t forget to include the pensioners in your family too!

30 minutes of walking per day can:

1. Be super relaxing. Taking a walk can actually shift your brain into a calmer state. A UK study found that walking through green spaces can put the brain into a meditative state.

2. Help develop independence in a child. Allowing them the decision of where to walk and in which direction gives them responsibility and helps them to grow and to become aware of what surrounds them.

3. Improve your mood. How many of us have, when we have been faced with perhaps a heated discussion or felt angry, gone for a walk to clear our heads? We’ve definitely done this!! 

4. Help you concentrate. Our work and home environment these days means that our brains are constantly being bombarded with information more often than not from many different sources at the same time. A walk gives your brain a rest from this information overload and can help give time out to sort through it all.

5. Encourage creativity. Because walking allows the brain the opportunity to recover from the tiredness of having so much information in it, a walk can rejuvenate the mind and put it in a restored state which is perfect for letting creativity flow.

6. Be an effective intervention for depression. Walking during depression with a close friend can have a significant impact on a person’s well-being.

7. Give body confidence. Walking burns calories and tones muscles which can lead to weight loss giving keen walkers a trimmer, leaner look.

8. Strengthen relationships. A walk with children, partners and friends encourages conversation and interaction. 

9. Improve complexion. A brisk walk in particular gets you working up a sweat which purges the skin of toxins whilst boosting oxygen and blood flow to the skin. This encourages important natural oils to keep skin soft and supple.

10. Provide better sleeping patterns. A walk resets the body clock with natural light and stimulates the brain sufficiently during the day so it’s ready to power down at night. So, if you find yourself tossing and turning at night think about turning to an early morning walk before hitting the sleeping pills.

A Mini Adventure is a great way to bond with the family whilst walking and exploring. 

Exercising the brain as well as the body which as we’ve just learned is really important. And totally gets the children involved in the decision-making on which way to go next. And with an average distance of around 2.5km, you’ll reach your daily steps target in no time and be so busy having lots of fun, that you won’t even realise you’ve done it!

Are you ready for a Mini Adventure? What are you waiting for? Get out there and explore whilst reaping the health benefits for the whole family!