Walking to Increase Energy

I often think of myself as a lazy person. Maybe a better definition is a low-energy person. I am always looking for ways to boost my energy or increase it. And then I am always looking for ways to take a nap. I am often lethargic, going at a slow pace and wishing I was faster or better at what I am doing.

What has worked for optimizing energy? Well, it is going to sound boring, but often key insights are not glamorous. Getting good sleep matters, exercising matters, and eating well matters too. All of those things help me feel better and have more energy. And all of them are packed with habits and rituals to make them actually happen in my life. 

Today, let's focus on just one way to increase energy: 

Walking. 

When you move slowly and feel lethargic it may seem counterintuitive to expend energy by going out and moving more. But when you actually get out and move in a gentle way that feels good to your body, you can GAIN energy rather than lose it. 

Sometimes I will go on a walk around the block. It takes me about 20 to 25 minutes. I can easily shorten the loop to make it a 10 or 15-minute walk and sometimes I do. But I have found that those first 10 to 15 minutes of the walk is usually when my energy is the lowest. After that time period, my energy picks up. I feel better. I breathe better. My outlook is better. All the positives start flowing. 

In fact, when my energy does NOT improve after 10 to 15 minutes, it is actually a great sign for me that something is going on. It could mean I got too little sleep or I am getting sick. But most of the time? Most of the time for me, it means I am in PMS time before my period when fatigue is my nonstop companion. And that kind of bone-deep fatigue does not improve with a walk. 

But we are not talking about chronic issues here. We are talking about gentle, easy ways to improve your energy and one of the best? Going for a walk each day.