5 Ways to Keep Walking Fresh

Walking is a great form of low-impact exercise and just 30 minutes a day can help you live longer. But the sport can get repetitive if you’re limiting yourself to the treadmill or the same 3-mile loop.

Here, five tips that will help you stay motivated and get excited about walking every day.

Instead of walking the same path every day, opt for different routes in your neighborhood or hop in the car and drive to a new starting spot. You can also try more challenging terrain like these coastal hikes or bucket-list trails.

If music or podcasts aren’t cutting it anymore, see if friends or family members want to join you on a regular walk, or view this as an opportunity to meet new people and search for walking groups in your area. If there aren’t any, start your own.

While walking at a set pace on a set route can help you calculate and manage your endurance, walking doesn’t always have to be that way. You can get your steps in by turning your walking into an activity, like visiting a museum or even shopping.

Make walking a game by keeping yourself accountable with small rewards when you complete your goals. Print or buy a wall calendar and check off the days you walk at your desired amount of miles. If you complete all 30 days, treat yourself to a special dinner, a spa treatment or new sneakers.

This new exercise trend involves picking up trash while walking or jogging and is gaining popularity. Not only will you work up a great sweat — you’ll also help the environment.