This Monday, Take a Walk on the Calm Side

You don’t always need heavy equipment or a gym membership to exercise. If you need to destress from work, school, or just life in general, take a walk. Walking can reduce your chances of problems with blood pressure, obesity, depression and heart disease long term.

Walking can be a group activity, too. That’s where the Monday Mile comes in. Grab some friends, family members, or co-workers and go for a 20-minute walk together. If you need more convincing, here’s why you should make this Monday’s activity a group walk:

Pick your partner: You have flexibility to choose your walking buddy, so ask anyone from your children to your grandparents. You and your parents can set the pace and intensity and still get reliable exercise.

You can go wherever you want: Schedule your 20-minute walk wherever works best for you, whether it’s at your office with co-workers or down the street with your family. Bonus points if you walk outside, which has been linked to reducing stress. Each location has their own challenges so that your walks stay fun, and your group can enjoy a variety of sites along the way.

Keep yourself motivated and social: Walking is more than just an chance to stay or get into shape. It’s a chance to catch up with people you care about and motivate each other to prioritize your physical and mental health. Staying social is a great way to relieve stress and you can use this time to discuss big life events with your walking partner(s).

Stay active: If you don’t have time or money for a gym membership, a 20-minute walk will keep your heart pumping and your brain focused. This is an opportunity for you and your group to stay active, and, if done consistently, walking is a great way to reduce long-term, stress-related health issues.

Download the free program guide “Start a Monday Mile in your Community” today so that you can use the next Monday to get stress out of your life, make walking fun, and keep your bonds strong.