Who remembers International Walk to School Month back in elementary school?
In October, walking to school is encouraged internationally, whether that is throughout the month, a week, or a day, according to walkbiketoschool.org. International Walk to School Month was created as a result of worldwide interest in walkable communities.
Consider these five perks as motivation to start walking to and from your classes:
Exercise
As someone who does not move around enough, I attempt to walk instead of taking the TTC if I have the willpower. When you have the opportunity, you can develop your physical wellbeing through walking.
According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey outcomes of 2014 and 2015, “In order to achieve health benefits, the recommendation for adults 18 and over is to accumulate at least 150 minutes of [moderate-to-vigorous physical activity] per week made up of sessions of activity each lasting at least 10 minutes.”
“Almost 1 in 5 (18%) Canadian adults met this recommendation,” reported Statistics Canada.
Three of several merits that are achievable through engaging in movement of the body, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada are rest recovery, strengthened stamina and degrees of lowered pressure.
Finding time to chat
Enjoy your walk by phoning up your family, friends or other people you would like to catch up with. Use the time of your journey to reach out and chat– this isn’t the subway so there’s no more using the “I didn’t have service” excuse.
(Tegan Mierle/Unsplash)
Uncovering unfamiliar settings
Have you ever looked around the locations you pass through as you’re traveling?
Fast Facts about Canada’s Neighbourhoods and Physical Activity reported that individuals are 66 per cent more likely to walk when they live in neighbourhoods with interesting scenery.
Unwinding
Do you scrutinize the happenings of the day as you’re walking? Take the scenic route and unravel your mind.
Your mental wellbeing may improve when taking walks, according to Canada Walks.
“Walking improves mood and concentration, boosts mental agility, and fights depression. Walkability promotes ‘sustainable happiness,’” reported Canada Walks.
Diminishing contamination
“Human sources of air pollution include activities that rely on carbon-based fuels (for example, transportation, electric utilities), industrial processes such as oil and gas production, as well as certain products, such as paints and solvents,” found the government of Canada.
“In 2016, transportation, off-road vehicles and mobile equipment accounted for more than half of total national emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) and 18% of total emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs),” according to the government of Canada.
Without compromising safety, the Canadian government advises people are advised to walk, bike or utilize public transport over cars, whenever they are able to, as one way of lowering the magnitude of pollution in the air.
Walking when commuting
For student commuters, walking is not always possible for the entire distance from your residence to school. Try to find a way to walk at any point during your commute.
Exercise. Converse. Uncover. Unwind. Walk.