We’re taking the next step on the @outofofficemarketing “Walk & Talk” work/life balance Instagram series, with tips on how scheduled walks with friends and family is multi-tasking at its best – benefiting your body, boosting your spirit, and enhancing your productivity.
Benefiting Your Body:
It’s no secret a regular walking regimen is associated with increased longevity and a higher quality of life – benefiting heart health, cardiovascular fitness, joint mobility, lung function, digestive health, blood pressure, and more. It also improves sleep, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Boosting Your Spirit:
Connecting with others while connecting with nature is a win-win! Studies show fresh air helps lead to a sense of calm, reducing feelings of anxiety, with the added benefit of having someone alongside you to be a sounding board for the good and not-so-good things going on in your life. Walking also increases the release of mood-boosting endorphins – while the rhythmic motion helps to stay focused on the conversation at hand, leaving less room for overthinking or rumination. Many also find the act of moving side by side rather than face to face can create a more comfortable atmosphere, encouraging deeper and more authentic discussions.
Enhancing Your Productivity:
Adding a walking conversation to your schedule offers a refreshing break from the usual routine – rejuvenating your mind and increasing overall efficiency when returning to your tasks. A “Walk & Talk” with a partner unleashes a collaboration component that can lead to brainstorming for problem-solving of all kinds.
We hope this inspires you to plan your next (or first) “Walk & Talk” stroll – and please share success stories in “Comments”!
Bonus Tip:
You don’t need to have an organized itinerary for your outing, but if you do want to prep a few topics, I found this NYTimes article with ideas for themes (i.e. “Struggle Stroll”) and prompts (i.e. “The thing that’s keeping me up at night is…”).
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