During my UG days when I went out on a date with my then BF now hubby, we used to walk around and round and talk. Let me rephrase it was more often, I talked and he listened. For me, that was the direct line to my heart. I fell in love walking with him, while the poor dear bravely listened to all my random dreams and worries and carried my satchel.
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How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!
I even wrote a book about How to Walk Write and Garden for the Healthy Life You Want (Wellness series part 1)
Walking for me always had a special place.I used to walk after dinner for one hour inside the Safdarjung hospital campus. We were married, staying in the doctor’s hostel and the post-dinner walk was a great chance to meet and catch up with friends. So both mind and body refreshed. Studying acres of notes, tons of books and writing fresh notes, was easier with this one hour of relaxing walk.
[bctt tweet=”The best part of life comes when you are not watching. Amrita” username=”misra_amrita”]
In 2013 I started my new job and shifted to my hubby’s hometown with a 10-month-old baby and full-time job. Mad days but blessed ones. With a small child and no pedestrian walkways walking was anything but fun. Luckily I had a treadmill that was collecting dust for sometimes. My hubby suggested I start using it. That was 2014.
I have walked mainly on the treadmill since then. Park and nature walks are my favorite walks. But what to do?
[bctt tweet=”You play the cards you are dealt with.” username=”misra_amrita”]At home, I can look at my potted plants, put on my favorite nature sounds and walk away.
At home, I can look at my potted plants, put on my favorite nature sounds, and walk.
I started blogging in 2014 too.I wrote once a month and struggled with writing. Things changed when I clubbed my treadmill, with a DIY wooden plank and made it my writing spot too.
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That’s what I have learned. Writing while walking, makes me feel good and positive and avoid the traps of weak back and poor BMR due to endless sitting.
The treadmill cum standing desk hack
Multitasking is frowned upon. I like mindfulness for most things I do.
What if it prevents lifestyle diseases? This habit of mine lets me walk more and write more. I am clubbing something I resist doing(walking on Treadmill), with something I love doing(writing ).A result, I walk as much as I write, when I write.
That’s when I am on the treadmill I get more work done on the blog, than when I am sitting. Even if I walk slowly at 2 Km per hour, I am walking 2 Km in one hour and writing too. That’s exciting!
Sitting is bad for your health. While the treadmill desk is not for everyone, you should definitely think of using a standing desk. It’s not about calories it’s about your spine, back, and leg muscles. The stronger they are, they will help you more. The weaker they are, your brain will waste resources worrying about them.
Creativity needs nurturing. Walking is as much an exercise for your body as it is for your mind. Even now I go on trips to places with good nature walks. I feel starting walking again together with my gardening has both helped me write.
While walking, my brain becomes calmer and my thoughts more organized. The result is, I write more and quickly. Walking and typing on the laptop, somehow makes the writing quick.I edit and add pics later. But do all rough drafts on the treadmill. Working this way is easier for me.
Don’t believe me?
Read this excerpt from the Stanford research paper where the treadmill desk was also used.
This paper published by Stanford researchers supports, what I have experienced using the treadmill desk.
Walking led to an increase in analogical creativity.Walking,and not being outdoors, was the driver of novel, high-quality analogies. While research indicates that being outdoors has many cognitive benefits, walking has a very specific benefit—the improvement of creativity.
How to WALK, Write & Garden for the Healthy Life you want Podcast
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How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!
