For years, I have been the type to go for long walks. Whether it's around the neighborhood, around a track, or on a treadmill, I like the stamina of exercising at a slow but steady speed that doesn't kill the rest of the day for me. But, like many people who claim that they cannot walk for exercise, I can grow bored easily on these treks that can easily last more than an hour. How do you stave off this feeling? We've all watched TV in the gym and listened to our iPod until we feel like we're going to scream. Here are some tips for things you may not have considered.
-Take someone with you.
I know that this may sound like simple advice, but it's not just taking someone for moral support. And it's not just taking someone so that you have someone to force you to get up and get out of the house and actually go on your walk. Instead, I'm talking about taking someone you find interesting and hammering out a conversation. You're not running, so you should be able to keep a flow of dialogue. Talk about anything and everything: relationships, past and current, views on the economy, the mid-term elections in 2010 politics, whether you know anyone who is phenylketoneuric, or simply what to name the new dog. It's a great way to catch up with friend or get to know an acquaintance. And just a hint: the time will pass even faster if you don't agree. If you can get into a discussion on healthcare or whether Nicholas Cage truly is the worst actor ever, you won't notice the miles fly by.
-Take your phone
If you can't take a friend, take your phone. We all have tons of people in our lives that we need to catch up with but there are simply not enough hours in the day. Thus, when you've got nothing to distract you, take some time, make a phone date, and catch up on what's going on. This is time that you can't be distracted by kids, work, or anything else, because it simply cannot get to you. And for those of you who don't want to hold a phone next to your ear, Bluetooth headpieces are easily affordable.
-Download an audio book
Not just for long road trips with the literate family anymore, audio books are now easily acquired online. In fact, many classic books can be downloaded free from the Librivox Foundation (found at www.librivox.org). However, books in every genre and pertaining to every subject can be easily acquired for a nominal fee. Sync it to your iPod and you can live out your walk in a faraway world. It's a great way for plowing through books you want to read but know that you'll never sit down and find the time for (31 hours to read The Count of Monte Cristo? Well, that's a month of walks right there). Plus, if you only download a certain amount of chapters to your audio player for each walk, ending a section can be your cue that its time to come in.
-Take a mini-recorder
Sometimes, you simply can't get away. You have too much to do, but you still want to get in your daily walk. It's easy to invest in a digital recorder that will allow you to take notes on the go. If you're drafting out a proposal or simply thinking about the problems that are confronting you, this device allows to take notes without having to stop and write it down on a little pad. Plus, you can ramble away, freestyle interpreting the ideas that you are having, coming up with a better solution now that you're away from all the stress and you've had some time to talk it out.
-Learn something
I'm not suggesting taking a nature hike (though if you like to hike, it does burn a lot of calories). Instead, if you're in school, consider recording lectures and playing them back to yourself as your walking. Granted, this may not be the most interesting way to pass the time, but you'll retain more information if you are exposed to it more than once, especially if you are an audio-style learner. And for those of you out of school who want to continue your learning, lectures are available for download from many different institutions including MIT and UCLA. Pick a subject you've always wanted to know something about, and learn while you burn.
There are a plethora of things that each of us has to accomplish in a day and it's easy to ignore our exercise regimens. However, by taking a simple walk, we can calm ourselves and work in some much needed cardio. And if we need some stimulation to keep us on the path, then hopefully these tips will allow you to stay focused, productive, and entertained.
