Did you know that walking briskly can lower your risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure just as much as running? Never been into running, me either. But I have been walking fast for several years and it helps me immensely. It's great exercise, a great cure for depression, and so much more. Walking is my go to whenever I'm feeling down or stressed or angry. I just go put on my good shoes, grab my headphones and take off walking for at least 40 minutes. It does wonders for me and my attitude! Walking just doesn't get the respect it deserves. There are many health benefits to walking. It's a great form of transportation and it's fun recreationally as well. As a healthcare traveler and/or Travel Nurse walking would be a great way to discover your new location. What better way to see everything an area has to offer than get on the ground and go for it.

The great thing about walking is you can do it whenever you like, weather permitting. Of course, you could always get a treadmill too but being outdoors in the sunshine is much better, in my opinion. Even if you start with a few minutes a day, it's a start. If you are too busy to walk for 30-40 minutes you can break them down into smaller, shorter walks, like 10-15 minutes. Anything you do will help. All you have to do is get your sneakers and walk. It's easy. It's safe and it's the least expensive form of exercise. No equipment needed, other than a good pair of shoes and they will last quite a while.

Hippocrates said "Walking is a man's best medicine" over 2400 years ago. According to Harvard Health Publications:

"The cardiovascular benefits of walking are biologically plausible; like other forms of regular moderate exercise, walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness and inflammation, and mental stress. And if cardiac protection and a lower death rate are not enough to get you moving, consider that walking and other moderate exercise programs also help protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction."

I do believe that those are enough reasons to keep up with my walking regime. Happy Trails!

Mary Crawford, HealthCare Employment Network