Walking is a free and easy way to travel short distances and is also a great way to improve your health, fitness and energy levels.
Health professionals such as the British Heart Foundation and the National Health Service strongly suggest aiming for 10,000 steps a day at moderate intensity. Did you know? The average person currently manages around 3,500 to 5,000 steps a day.
Why walk?
Walking at a pace that gets the heart pumping can:
- help to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some cancers
- help you loose weight by burning up to 75 calories every 30 minutes
- help you build up muscle mass and increase stamina
- boost circulation and increases oxygen supply to wake you up and give you more energy
- boost your mood by releasing feel-good endorphins and reducing stress and anxiety
Staying motivated
The easiest way to walk more is to make if part of your daily routine. Think about:
- Walking part of your journey to work
- Walking to the shops
- Using the stairs instead of the lift
- Leaving the car behind for short journeys
- Walking the kids to school
- Doing a regular walk with a friend
- Going for a stroll with family or friends after dinner
Promoting walking at your workplace
Our Travel Devon Toolkit for businesses provides the business case for promoting walking and active working in the sedentary office environment. Visit our website and find out how your site facilities and business initiatives can support staff to walk or run to work.
Register to the Travel Devon Toolkit and, if your business is in Exeter, Newton Abbot or Barnstaple, you will be eligible for sustainable travel grant funding. You will also find activities and template resources for promoting walking to staff and other travel planning advice.