Finding time to exercise seems to be one of the biggest challenges in the lives of many people wanting to live healthier. Between family responsibilities, commutes, and seasonal cold and darkness, morning exercise can seem impossible. An evening walk can be a good alternative or complement to other daily exercise.
One of my favorite habits is an evening walk with my husband. Whenever we’re home, we prioritize a walk after dinner. The benefits are many.
- Exercise: one of the more obvious benefits of an evening walk is the exercise - it strengthens your heart, burns calories, builds strength, boosts your immune system, is easy on your joints, and more
- Nature: being outside can boost your immune system and your mood
- Sleep: 1) you want to have 2-3 hours between your last meal and sleep – if you don’t have that long between dinner and bed, a walk can help speed up digestion and stabilize your blood sugars, which may help you sleep better
2) melatonin levels increase in darkness, so a walk during the time of sunset (think of those nice warm rays, rather than the cool blues of midday) or later can help signal that it’s time to sleep
- Connection: if you walk with a loved one, it’s a great time to connect; walking and talking side-by-side is a powerful way to destress, work through challenges, or just be in the presence of someone who gives you support
- Solitude: if you prefer to walk by yourself, that’s great too, as it can help you work through your day and clear your head. (In fact, Dr. Francine Shapiro developed EMDR therapy from her discovery that she was less troubled by disturbing thoughts when she was engaged in optic flow, which is the constant movements your eyes make to let your brain know where you are as you move yourself through space.)
- Gratitude: the subtle day-to-day changes in your environment might begin to reassure you of your connectedness and abundance
If you’d like to begin an evening walk, I encourage you to make sure you’re safe where you’re walking (and take a light), tune in to your environment (not your phone) or your walking partner, finish at least an hour before bed, and be cognizant about avoiding blue lights and overhead lights when you return home. You’ll be amazed at where the adventure takes you!
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