Walk 4 life: Tips to get walking every day

Walking’s just not for me...Here are some common reasons why people feel they can’t go for walks. Are any ofthem the same as your reasons? Hopefully you’ll see that anyone can start walking,whatever they do and wherever they live.“I don’t have the time”Walking is the easiest exercise to fit into a busylifestyle since you can do it anywhere at a timethat suits you. It’s better than sweating on a packedbus or train, or getting stressed in a traffic jam.You’ll still have to make a little effort to find time,but remember active people live longer and have ahealthier old age. So think of your walking time as agood investment!“I don’t know any good placesto walk”Sometimes main roads don’t feel like the nicest andsafest places to walk. But there are lots of quieterstreets, parks, watersides and green spaces even inbusy urban areas if you know where to look forthem. Ask friends if they know good areas to walk,visit your local council’s website or go to yourlibrary and look at maps of your area. You can alsofind lots of organised walks by visiting the ‘Walkingthe Way to Health’ website here to help you findplaces that are fun to get to on foot.“I don’t feel safe on the streets”It’s understandable that people are concerned fortheir personal safety, but it doesn’t have to stopyou enjoying the benefits of walking. If you can,walk with a companion or on an organised walk,and see the section on safety in this guide formore tips on walking safely. Also, the morepeople who walk, the safer the streets will be!“I don’t have anyone to walk with”Ask your family, friends and colleagues if they’reinterested in walking with you. Or try an organisedwalk – you can find out about these by searchingfor them online (www.walkengland.org.uk is a goodplace to start).“My kids won’t walk”Exercise is really important for kids, but it can bedifficult to get them away from indoor activitieslike watching TV. Take a look at the ‘Fun games forevery day walking’ and ‘Fun walking games forparks and woodland’ here for great ideas to makewalking more interesting for them.“I’m too unfit to walk”Walking is a natural and easy exercise that you canstart doing in small amounts and build up slowly.That makes it perfect for people who are very unfitor recovering from an illness. Very few of us are sounfit that we’d endanger ourselves by walking, butif you have any doubts, talk to your doctor first.There are so many good reasonsto start walking, the only thingyou have to do now is choosewhere to go first!