Ten Boredom Busters for Walkers

Walking every day seemed like a great idea when you decided to exercise more. At the start, you probably even looked forward to lacing up your shoes and hitting the pavement. Now that you've been walking daily for a couple of weeks, though, you're having a hard time motivating yourself. It's tempting to just give up altogether.

Thankfully, there are easy ways to make your walks fun again. Try these 10 boredom busters to put the spring back in your step.

1. Take a new route. This change can be as simple as turning left at a juncture where you normally turn right, or starting your walk in the opposite direction. Or try driving to a nearby park to explore new walking trails and scenery. Some shopping malls even have special programs that allow members to walk the mall before business hours, so you can avoid crowds; walking in malls is also a good option in bad weather.
2. Get your children involved. Take an evening walk and use the time to reconnect as a family. Engage your kids with games like "I Spy," asking them to keep track of different colored cars or types of trees.
3. Mix up the pace. Try interval training, which combines bursts of high-speed strides with "rest" periods of slower walking.
4. Get a gadget. Strap on a heart-rate monitor to determine your exertion level. Wear a pedometer to track the distance you walk, how fast you go and how many steps you take.
5. Engage your senses. Pay attention to the sights along your way, not just the asphalt or path in front of you. Think about how the air smells. Enjoy the sounds of birds or even the whirr of traffic.
6. Carry light dumbbells. Start with a comfortable weight, maybe two pounds each, to give your upper body a workout while you walk.
7. Listen while you walk. Fast-paced music will keep your pace up and your energy high. Or get an audio book that you only listen to while you work out. That way, you have to get moving to find out how it ends!
8. Walk with a friend (or two). Use your walks to reconnect with old friends, or make new ones by joining a local walking club.
9. Multi-task. Interested in photography? Bring along a lightweight camera to chronicle your journey. Or use the time to plan an upcoming party or tomorrow's meal. If stores are within walking distance, plan your walk around an errand you need to do.
10. Walk for a cause. Use your walks to train for a longer charity event, such as a 5K walk or even a half marathon. With a goal to help others, your daily trek may feel like less of a chore.

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External Source National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Tips to stay motivated with a walking plan. Accessed September 5, 2007.

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