Even though every walking location can have a downside, one of the great things about walking is that you typically have more than one location available to you to walk. You may not see it now, but there are walking locations all around you if you just know where to look.
Walking in your own home
You don’t even have to go out your own front door to find areas to walk. You can walk without leaving home with the following strategies:
Walk the halls: Walk around the interior of your home by making a path from the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen and back again. You can even walk this path during commercial breaks while watching TV or while talking on the phone to increase your steps.
Walk the stairs: Stairs are a great way to increase the intensity and the incline of your walking workout. As you walk up the stairs, you are challenging all the major muscles in your lower body while elevating your heart rate, helping to burn more calories and fat.
Walk the exterior of your home: If you love walking outdoors but don’t have access to a sidewalk or a safe street to walk on, try walking around the exterior of your house. This tactic allows you to enjoy fresh air while still racking up extra steps
Utilize walking equipment: If you have exercise equipment such as a treadmill in your home, this can be a great place to walk. A treadmill allows you to adjust the speed and the incline of your walking workout, allowing you to make it as easy or as challenging as you like.
Use your DVD player: Walking DVDs are available to help you increase your steps and burn calories without needing more than a few feet of room. This is a great way to boost your daily steps and fit in a walk in a tight space.
Walking at work
Every workplace offers the opportunity to increase your daily steps if you just know where to look:
Take the stairs instead of the elevator to increase your steps.
On a break, walk the interior or exterior of your office building.
If your company has an onsite fitness center, see whether you can take a brisk walk on a treadmill before or after your workday.
Talk to coworkers about forming a walking group to encourage regular walking and to make short, brisk walks at work more fun.
Park farther away and walk the length of the parking lot before coming into your building.
Walking outdoors
The possibilities are limitless when it comes to walking outside:
Take a stroll down the street in your neighborhood for a relaxing walk.
If possible, walk to nearby stores such as the grocery store instead of driving to fit in more daily steps.
Window shop local stores to enjoy the sites while increasing your steps.
Power walk at the park or at the local school track to help increase your fitness level and the intensity of your workout.
Grab a friend and go for a hike. It’s a great way to not only enjoy the outdoors, but to increase the intensity of your walking workout as well.
Walking while traveling
No matter where you are, there’s always the opportunity to find a space to walk. Consider these options:
At the airport, take a brisk walk through the terminal while waiting for your flight.
When taking a road trip, get out and stretch your legs and aim to briskly walk 500 steps before getting back in the car during rest stops.
When out and about — whether you are grocery shopping, at the mall, or enjoying a day with friend — use little tricks such as parking in the last parking spot, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, or taking the long way to the checkout register to help you increase steps and torch calories.