Background
We do know with the vast ways of travelling it may be difficult for some of us to walk to work, whether it is the distance, our physical condition and sometimes other factors and priorities may affect our decision.
Most of our day-to-day activities would often require us to sit in one place, with little to no movement due to working in an office chair or at an office desk with your colleagues.
This inactive lifestyle is not healthy, as it can lead to weight gain, heart problems and more.
When is it?
On Friday the 1st of April this year, it is Walk to Work day.
Walk to Work Day is an exciting and valuable day, since walking is one of the simplest and enjoyable exercises in the world, it:
- burns calories
- exercises our muscles
- refreshes our mind.
According to walkingforhealth.org.uk “Walking improves self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue”.
Do I need to walk to work?
No, you don’t need to walk the complete distance to work, even walking to your bus stop or train station also counts. The focus of Walk to Work Day is to celebrate being more active.
Here are a few tricks which you can use to make your walk to work much more enjoyable:
- Listen to your favourite music – walking to the beat of your favourite music will make the walk more enjoyable.
- Slow down and look around – there are a lot of small details which we miss when we are driving to work and are in a state of tunnel-vision, like the blooming of the dandelions and beautiful flowers.
- Fresh perspective – take this time to admire the sky and the world around us.
Additionally, there are no annoying traffic jams or construction slowing you down, so you can enjoy your
leisurely travel to work without a problem.
What benefits will I gain from walking to work?
There are multiple benefits to walking to work, some of these are:
- Saving money – By not driving your car to work or taking public transport, you will save money by not using fuel. An additional bonus is that your carbon footprint is reduced.
- Becoming more physically active – According to the NHS “A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise”.
How can I celebrate Walk to Work day?
Here’s a few steps which we would recommend:
- Leave your car at home – By leaving your car at home, you are telling yourself that you will walk to and from work, you will cherish the sunlight, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy yourself. You are not just helping your body; you are also helping the environment by lowering your carbon footprint.
- Invite your friends, neighbours and colleagues – Make a day out of the occasion by getting your friends, neighbours and colleagues involved. You will enjoy the walk more, stop by a local café or a shop to grab some snacks and a drink on the way.
- Make a habit out of it – There is no better way to honour the day than by walking to work on a daily or a weekly basis.
It can benefit you for years to come, and you will also save money on fuel, car maintenance, and costs related to using public transport.
How can I celebrate while working from home?
You can go on a 30-minute walk around your neighbourhood. By breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the walk, you will gain the same feeling and exercise that you would get from walking to your workplace.
If you are not able to leave your home due to certain reasons or restrictions. You could give yourself some
walking breaks throughout the day by getting up from your work desk, stretching and walking to other areas of your house.
Reshape HR is here to assist. We work with a variety of clients based across the UK, so if you are looking for HR or Payroll support or simply looking to run something past us, please do get in touch with us via:
T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com