walk. outside.
30 minutes. daily.
Why is it so hard to make myself go outside? It may be twelve degrees in frigid northern Michigan, but I was born here, so why am I huddled in my house instead of enjoying the elements? Here’s five quick tips to help you look forward to outdoor adventures.
- Read copious amounts of articles about the benefits. Absolutely deluge yourself with information about how much it will benefit you to take a mid-length walk. Surround yourself with walking propaganda. Brainwash yourself into believing it’s the best thing for your health.
- Supply yourself with excellent gear. Not just adequate. You have to look forward to it to do it, and since you’re not looking forward to the actual walking, you must look forward to looking cute while you do it. I saved and got a gorgeous pair of mukluk boots from Manitobah which feel just like slippers. I feel like I’m hacking the system by walking outside in my house shoes, which triggers my subtle rebellious streak, which helps power me as I wade through snowdrifts.
- Gloves. Hat. SCARF. Two layers of down. I undervalued such basic snow weather gear and then looked down on myself for not enjoying the outdoors. Now that I have wool gloves, a warm hat, and a $10 scarf from Old Navy, I enjoy going outside.
- Go somewhere you want to go. Seems simple. But I would make myself do these strenuous horrible hikes that were slippery and treacherous, or wobbling along on the road shoulder. Now I go to nice, wide, pleasant trails and have a great time.
- Bring a friend. The second-most important thing after the right gear is the right company. You can do almost anything alone, but a friend makes the minutes fly by. I always end up walking much longer when I’m with a pal, and leave feeling uplifted and encouraged. I do have the benefit of having wonderful friends. If you don’t have at least one of those, start with Jesus, and ask him to bring you more.