How to Start A Family Walking Routine

Easy tips to start and increase the length of your family walk. Family walks will create a lifelong healthy habit for everyone.

Why is walking important for the family?

A daily walk is an easy and healthy activity that improves whole-body wellness.  There are many reasons to start walking, such as disease prevention, building healthy bones, improving mental health, and reconnecting. To start, just head out on the sidewalk or go to your backyard. Something simple may turn into the development of a healthy habit that will bring lifelong benefits.

Reasons We LOVE Family Walks

1. One of the most important reasons is that our family gets to unplug from technology. We are resetting our mind and body, a perfect start to the day, or transitioning from school and work.
2. It is a guaranteed time to create a connection with the family and leave everything else behind.
3. We are getting our bodies moving and exercising, creating a healthy lifestyle habit for the whole family.
4. We can play and explore our surroundings. Learn about the neighborhood and who we share it with (people, animals, plants, etc.).
   

It may seem challenging to build a new habitat, such as walking, but there are many tips for success. These tips helped increase our family’s endurance, allowing us to go on long walks through parks and our neighborhood.

*If you have a child under 3-years-old, try to do a walk that they can join in and one where they can go into a stroller for the rest of the family to have a longer walk.

Tips to Start a Walking Routine

1. Go out on a walk 2-3 times per week on the same days and time. Creating a habit/routine will save time and stress. Plan it at the beginning of the week when you receive everyone’s schedule.
2. Start small by only walking for about 10 minutes at a pace that is manageable for everyone. Increase or decrease by 2 minutes based on how the first day goes and continue this for the first week.
3. Increase the length of the walk by 2-3 minutes each week. There can be a cap that is suitable for everyone’s schedule. *We love to do 25-30 minute walks at least once a day.
4. Try not to miss out on any of your walks. It will cause a loss of endurance.
5. Create a visual goal for your family to reach. Say, “We need to walk to the red house at the end of the road.” Every time your distance increases create a different visual.
6. Maintain a positive attitude. Everyone will draw off each other's moods.
7. Dress for the weather.
8. Bring a small backpack with water and easy-to-go snacks, depending on length as you progress.
   

Don’t get frustrated during your first few weeks since it will be an adjustment period for everyone. Persist, and do not give up! If the weather is bad for any reason, just take a walk around the house. Set a timer, put on your favorite Spotify station, and walk, even make a game out of it. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Check Out : Making Walks Fun for Kids

Here is a list of ways to make walking fun for kids. There are various indoor and outdoor walking activities to help.