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No one needs to walk off stress as much as a widow does. If you’re tired of feeling lost and want to take control than please keep reading.
I don’t think you’ll be surprised to read that heading out for a walk is the easiest and most effective way to boost vitality, and elevate your mood.
- Walking is free.
- You already know how to do it.
- It can be done anywhere – in or outside.
- There is no right or wrong way to walk.
- Good sneakers do matter.
- Stretch first to prepare your muscles.
- Walk before breakfast to burn more fat.
- Listen to music and you will move faster.
Benefits to walking:
- Better sleep.
- More energy.
- Less stress.
- Positive mood.
- Improved confidence.
Research shows that you will likely stick with walking if you enjoy it. Pick the time, place and walking buddy that works for you. A way to give your walk a boost is to do interval walks, switching from an easy stroll to high-intensity bursts and then back to an easy stroll. The brief bursts of high-intensity movement powers up your circulation and energies your body.
Don’t exert yourself like a maniac, but simply intersperse short bursts of activity into your walk. That means power walking, jogging or jumping one minute, and easy stroll for the next four minutes. You should be slightly out of breath and sweating, but then walking for the other four minutes gives you a cool down time before you do it again.
An important tip is to drink 8 oz. of fluid approx. 15 minutes
before your walk. It’s important to be hydrated to function at your best. One of the biggest roadblocks for a new widow is a social life when they went from wife to widow. It’s a stressful time with a sense of helplessness. Having control in just this one thing is powerful. Walking on any given day is a way to take back some control.
To make your walks even better, get others to join you. If you have someone to talk to, you will walk farther and be more consistent. I know we are currently having record high temperatures in many parts of the world. Don’t let it stop you from walking as you can always watch a walking “YouTube” video or DVD, and walk safely within your own home.
Please enjoy your walks either by yourself or with others, a stroll or interval walk, 20 minute or one hour, walking inside or outside, morning or evenings – what matters is that you just do it.
Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows
#thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve. #widowshelpingwidows
