The best health habit for 2025:

I used to think walking was a waste of time.

I thought you needed all-out effort to benefit from exercise.

No pain, no gain right?

Wrong.

Here are 5 reasons why walking is the best health habit for 2025:

1. Available at any time and any place.

Don’t rely on having a gym, a personal trainer, or your favorite Peleton instructor.

Spending money on your fitness doesn’t make a difference.

Walking is affordable and available anywhere and at any time.

Like last week when we traveled for the holidays, I didn’t have to worry about missing my morning movement.

Consistency is the key to achieving your fitness goals.

2. Blood flow and digestion

Joint, bone, and muscle movement for better blood flow.

Walking reduces inflammation and improves recovery.

Walking also helps to bring blood sugar levels back to baseline.

Walking used to be our main form of transportation.

It would make sense that our bodies were designed to benefit from walking.

3. Sun exposure and fresh air

After dinner is the 2nd best time to walk.

Walking while the sun is coming up is #1.

Set your Circadian Rhythm with bright light in the morning.

Our brain and body thrive with predictability.

Bright light plus exercise signals that a new day has begun.

Dark days may make it more difficult this time of year.

But believe me when I say, walking at sunrise is the best health habit for 2025.

4. Mental clarity and reduced anxiety

A good walk starts with awareness.

Present and open to the experience.

Put your pressing problems away, or rather let them melt away as you move.

What is your posture like?

Do you feel anxious or relaxed?

What can you feel beneath your feet?

Breathe in, Breathe out.

When you feel the pull of responsibilities push yourself a bit further into the now.

Take a new route.

One that takes you outside the city.

Take advantage of the inspiring power of nature.

5. Hip, knee, and ankle stretching

Humans aren’t designed to sit for 8 hours a day.

Sitting with bent knees, hips and ankles is a problem

Walking is the solution.

Repeated lower body stretching so you can move efficiently and avoid joint pain.

Our ancestors walked a minimum of 5 miles per day.

Today the average person walks less than 2.

Walking is this year's best health habit.

Hope this helps,

Tyler Van Acker, Doctor of PT

PS

So there you have it, the 5 big benefits of walking:

1. Available anytime and any place

2. Blood flow and digestion

3. Sun exposure and fresh air

4. Mental clarity and reduced anxiety

5. Hip, knee, and ankle stretching

Is foot pain holding you back from walking?

Then my 60-Day Foot Pain Recovery Plan is for you.

Click the link below to get on the waitlist: