Regular readers of the Oakeley blog will know that we love a good walk here at the Oakeley Arms. And with stunning surroundings right here in Snowdonia, we’d be hard pushed to find a better place to head out for a stroll.

And did you know that this month, May, is National Walking Month? UK charity Living Streets, which aims to get more people out and about walking every day, has designated the whole of May as a walking month, to highlight how easy and effective it is to get on your feet, out of the door and out for a walk, wherever you live.

A little bit of walking every day has many benefits. It’s a great cardio exercise, which means it strengthens your heart, lowers the risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease and can help you lose weight. Just half an hour of walking a day can burn 150 calories, which if done daily, will soon add up. Recent studies have also shown that regular walking can also help prevent dementia and can be an effective anti-dote to depression, insomnia and anxiety.

So, what are you waiting for? Why not commit to heading out for a short walk every day this month – go and get your shoes and head out for a stroll….. but if you’re struggling for inspiration, then here are some top tips to help you get out there, get active and feel the benefits of National Walking Month 2017….

• Get friends and family to join in – in our busy lives it can be difficult to find time to catch up with friends and family, so why not invite them out for a stroll instead. Not only will you have fun catching up, but you’ll also reap the benefits of your daily walk.
• If you usually pop to the corner shop next door to the office to pick up your lunch, why not try somewhere further away – but you have to walk there first!
• Take a camera with you and find some interesting things and people to snap along the way. You can record your walking journey as the month goes on.
• Instead of jumping in the car to the pick up something for dinner, why not walk there instead?
• If you live close to your child’s school then why not commit to walking there at least once a day? Children who see their parents walking will be much more likely to keep up the habit in later life.
• Take time for yourself and make sure you make time for a daily walk. Even on hectic days it will help boost your mood, banish negative thoughts and increase your energy levels.
• Don’t let the rain stop play! A bit of a downpour shouldn’t get in the way of a daily walk – put on your waterproofs and dig out the brolly.
• Add in a hill – when you’ve got the hang of walking every day why not mix it up a bit and add some hill walking to your route every other day? This will help push your fitness and increase the cardio workout.
• Good luck! And happy walking 🙂

Come back to the blog later in the week for a fabulous local walk to try this National Walking Month 2017……

Image from freeimages