In the best of times, your city can change dramatically in a year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this situation was exacerbated enormously. To make matters worse, we have all been cooped up inside our homes for way too long, so there’s no telling how much change might have happened just down the street. While the weather is still warm, why not take some time to get out of your house and enjoy a long walk around your city.
Rediscovering places you’ve missed and finding out what has newly arrived is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of urban walking. You might even discover that you like the pastime so much that it becomes a daily ritual.
The Importance of Long Walks
Walking for pleasure may be a lost art, but it is also one of the easiest habits to rediscover. It may not seem evident that going on long walks alone can provide health benefits that are otherwise difficult to achieve steadily.
Enjoying an Audio Companion
Since a long walk may take you away from your home for hours at a time, you should bring along a bag to carry a few essentials. The number one priority is to take enough food and water if only to keep you from getting distracted from your journey by stopping in at a restaurant or local watering hole.
Other things that you might enjoy having on your urban walking tour include
- Camera
- Water Bottle
- Snacks
- Phone
- Extra battery life
- warm socks
- Extra layers of clothing
- Umbrella
If you’re someone that enjoys listening to music, audiobooks or podcasts while taking in the city, then loading up your phone or an old iPod is a must. You will probably also want to pack extra battery power for these devices.
Invite a Friend Along
Walking in solitude has been shown to bring dramatic mental health benefits to those who enjoy the habit regularly, but if you’re getting tired of all that alone time, you can always invite a friend along. Long walking excursions are just not for some people, so you need to be sure to pick the right person to bring along.
You can also provide some encouragement by giving your friend a practical gift like Heat Holders socks for women to ensure that she won’t get too cold along the way and can keep pace with your adventurous spirit. Keep in mind that some people like to have a goal in mind whenever they walk in the city, so you might have better luck if you decide on a destination in advance, perhaps where you can both enjoy a treat.
Take It Slow
Remember, the main point of your excursion is to experience aspects of your city that you haven’t been able to enjoy for a long while or haven’t noticed before. If you’re moving too fast, you’re not going to notice the subtle differences that will make this experience meaningful later. That means you can’t attempt to bicycle or jog. You want to be able to stop and smell the roses at all times.
The art of urban walking may seem old-fashioned, but it can be an enormous relief from the fast-paced routine of city life. There’s no time like the present to get started, so pick up some warm socks and a comfortable pair of running shoes, and start exploring.
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