I’m still a beginner at walking compared with some of the people I know who’ve been doing it for years. When I was still trying to make it a daily part of my routine, I realized that it wasn’t easy as I initially thought it would be. Finding the motivation to do it every single day, even when I’m not in a mood for it, was a constant challenge in the beginning. But as I kept at it, I learned that building my walking habit didn’t have to be a serious life-altering event. I just had to keep my daily walks as fun as it can get to make me want to do it again the next day.
No-frills start
My first walking adventures were fairly short and slow. I carved out 30 minutes of my time for it from my daily schedule. I had to make a small adjustment by waking up about 15 minutes than usual because I prefer to do my walks in the morning. Fifteen minutes was a reasonable chunk of time for me. Not too much to disrupt my habits in a big way, which made it easier for me to stick with. My 30-minute walk was also more of a pleasurable stroll rather than a serious activity. I set no goals other than to spend the time I allotted for the walk.
Enjoyable route
I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed my walks in the beginning if I picked difficult routes. Luckily, there were many paved footpaths near where I live. There was also a big park roughly 10 minutes away from my place. This gave me plenty of routes to choose from when I was just starting out. The well-maintained roads and tracks made for easy walking. There were a lot of trees along the way. It’s a pleasant route that I look forward to every day.
Comfortable shoes and clothes
Walking is one of the most inexpensive ways to exercise. There’s really nothing much you need to do it. There’s always a road or a path to follow, which you can do for free. A good pair of walking shoes, however, can bring you farther more comfortably. I was happy to find a nice pair that didn’t cost me much. As I went for more walks, I also realized the importance of wearing the right clothes. Too much covering on a humid morning leaves me sweaty and not so happy with my walks. A nice water-resistant windbreaker proved handy when I got caught in sudden drizzles as I take a walk.
