6 Benefits of Adding Walks to Your Work Day
By adding a walking routine to your workday, you don’t just get the physical benefits of exercise. Walking has many mental health benefits. There are six benefits that you’ll receive by adding a walking regimen to your workday.
1. Improve Circulation
While on your daily walk, you’re increasing your heart rate, causing the blood in your body to circulate faster. The increase in circulation delivers extra oxygen to the cells while removing carbon dioxide and waste. A strong circulation system can help lower a person’s risk for heart disease and reduce blood pressure levels.
2. Lower Bad Cholesterol and Increase Good Cholesterol
Walking can increase the good HDL cholesterol levels in your blood while lowering the bad LDL levels. It’s important to maintain a good ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol, in order to reduce the amount of plaque that develops in the arteries. Clogged arteries can lead to a stroke.
3. Improved Lung Capacity
Walking forces your lungs to work harder. While pushing the air in and out of your body, your lungs will increase in capacity. The increased capacity helps the body to move more efficiently during your walk. Over time, breathing while walking will become easier.
4. Weight Management
Walking is a form of aerobic exercise. That means while exercising; your heart rate will increase. If you were to take a 15-minute walk at lunch time and walked three mph, you should burn around 60 to 70 calories. The amount of calories burned will depend on a few factors, including age and weight. If you completed this walk every day for five days, you could easily burn 300 calories by the end of each workweek.
5. Improve Your Mood
While many of the benefits of walking are physical, there are some mental benefits. A walk at lunch-time can help relieve the stress. The walk can also help you relax, relieve tension and prepare yourself for the rest of the day.
6. Boost Brain Power
The increased oxygen and blood flow from walking can help improve brain function. The reduction of stress and relaxation can help a person think more clearly and be more focused. These positive effects don’t go away after the walk is over; they can last for hours. That means your workday walk can increase your work productivity.
If you don’t have time to walk, there is a way to walk and work at the same time. There is a standing desk that has a walking treadmill attached. It costs around $4,000, so it’s not cheap. However, it is something that some companies have found helpful for their employees. The treadmill desk system can improve people’s health, reduce health care costs and increase productivity. While the initial expense may seem high, in time the company will save money on health care and have a healthier and happier workforce.ion of stress and relaxation can help a person think more clearly and be more focused. These positive effects don’t go away after the walk is over; they can last for hours. That means your workday walk can increase your work productivity.
