Spring Walking Tips

The American Dietetic Association says the minimum exercise for good health is 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day.

Moving more can have a positive impact on your bottom line too: Life threatening diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity—which contribute to skyrocketing healthcare costs—may be prevented with diet and exercise.

Regular exercise can also perk up your mood and help with mental issues including depression.

An office walking program is an easy way to get employees motivated to exercise. Try distributing walking logs so employees can track their progress.

And research shows that incentives can be a key motivator in losing weight. Programs like the Walking for my Wii Challenge can entice employees to get more exercise.

Walking in the spring—or any season—is free, low-impact, and a great way to burn calories. When encouraging employees to walk, remind them of the following tips:

Always walk in the direction of oncoming traffic and try to wear bright or reflective clothing like the color orange or yellow.

Layer. It may be warming up outside, but it’s still chilly! Layer lighter fabrics you can shed as you heat up to avoid overheating.

Find a safe route. Drivers may not be on the look out for walkers so making yourself visible is crucial.

Walk with a friend or training partner. This not only increases your safety but provides you with extra motivation and competition.

Wear something with pockets. Always carry an ID and cell phone in case of an emergency.

Try to vary your routes and the time of day that you walk. This will keep you safer and make your walks more interesting.

Leave the headphones and MP3 player at home. It’s important to be alert to your surroundings such as traffic, dogs, or the sounds of other people around you.