How to Get the Most Out of Leisurely Walks

Leisurely walks can help turn things around in your life for the better. At an early age I learned the value of how to get the most out of leisurely walks. It can powerfully clear up clutters in your mind--and your life.

It was a cloudy late afternoon. Feeling stressed out due to almost a whole day of typing and staring at the monitor, I decided to leave the house and go out for a while. Outside, the cool dusk breeze blew gently against my face. I was instantly refreshed. I took a leisurely walk down the street to drop by the small street corner eatery--just to see what's cooking.

Suddenly, I knew just what to do with a near impossible task. Just moments ago, my head was about to burst with frustration because I couldn't figure out what to do with a piece I was asked to translate. How do you translate conversations that really say and aim at nothing? The first few attempts I had made resulted to something like, "I cannot, can you? Because right there they went to go somewhere else are you crazy? Hey, see that?"

That's when I decided I needed to take a walk. I guess my blood circulation had been going on slow motion, having been sitting there in my chair all day, so that my brain cells got so little oxygen in the process. Leisurely walks have always given me alternative points of view. I always end up getting a more practical or more positive approach to things or people. I read somewhere that leisure walks gave you two vital things: peace of mind and good blood circulation.

When there's good blood circulation, peace of mind comes next. And if you're healthy, it only takes leisurely walks with deep breaths to stimulate blood to circulate well anew. Then you'll be amazed at the difference it makes. You see things a lot better--I mean from a better vantage point.

Walking exercise, especially brisk walking, is among my favorites. I have my regular workouts--martial arts, shadow boxing, jogging in place, and brisk walking--but leisure walking is something else. It frees the mind and even allows it to soar heights you never thought were possible.

When I was younger and working in a government agency located in a subdivision, I would use my coffee breaks doing a leisure walking exercise around the block to clear up my cluttered mind. When the loads of house chores imposed on me were maddening (as a teenager I was tasked with washing clothes, cleaning the house, and watering the plants, all manually) I would leave the house in the morning or evening and take a hike for some moments. After a little while, I'd have a better picture of how house chores were actually doing my character and maturity good.

Another way of how to get the most out of leisurely walks is to make it a meditative activity. I often use my leisurely walks talking with God or simply being aware that He is. Another favorite of mine is to walk with a partner, like my dear wife, or one of my sons, or a jogging buddy.

The main thing is to enjoy your walk, not aiming at attaining any goal or target distance or time limit. Just walk at your own relaxed pace.