{"id":874,"date":"2011-06-22T05:54:46","date_gmt":"2011-06-22T09:54:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=874"},"modified":"2011-06-19T23:01:59","modified_gmt":"2011-06-20T03:01:59","slug":"eliminating-stress-take-a-walk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/eliminating-stress-take-a-walk.html","title":{"rendered":"Eliminating stress–Take a walk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>When I first began writing to meet a deadline, I found that I could sit at the computer for only a limited number of hours. \u00a0Every 15 minutes or so, I would walk around the house or yard. \u00a0I might get a glass of iced tea or stroll through the yard. \u00a0After a couple of hours, I had to completely stop and take a walk. \u00a0Armed with my 30 to 40 sheets of manuscript and a sharp pencil, I would slowly meander through our neighborhood while rereading and re-editing the document I’d just written.<\/p>\n

I learned from this experience that taking a walk is different from other exercises. \u00a0Walking is a low impact, uncomplicated pathway to greater health. \u00a0As simple as it is, taking a walk can be an amazing stress reliever. \u00a0Stress is a fact of life. \u00a0No matter what your occupation or avocation, you are hit with harmful stress if you don’t watch your step. \u00a0Some of the most beneficial steps are taken while you walk.<\/p>\n

Walking relieves stress levels because it increases our levels of endorphins. \u00a0These are the hormones which medical professionals tell us make us happy. \u00a0One reason is that endorphins help you to feel good about yourself.<\/p>\n

Of course, you can get the endorphin jolt from ordinary exercise. \u00a0So why walk instead?<\/p>\n

Walking allows you to slow down enough to enjoy the wonders of your natural surroundings. \u00a0It’s almost impossible to walk and not find something that is fascinating and interesting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Wild flowers inching between the cracks in the sidewalk, a bug scurrying away to feed her young, your neighbor’s willow tree swinging in the wind can become moment of exquisite pleasure. \u00a0\u00a0By alerting your mind to become involved in the adventure, you can experience a delightful, stress-defeating break.<\/p>\n

The best walks happen along the shore of a lake, river or ocean. \u00a0The rhythmic sounds of moving water adds additional stress relieving benefits. \u00a0However, for many people, this isn’t possible. \u00a0Nevertheless, if you are one of the fortunate folks who can walk near a body of water, this excursion produces a significant calming affect.<\/p>\n

If you have a raincoat and an umbrella, don’t be afraid to walk in the rain. \u00a0 Take off your shoes and socks. \u00a0Roll up your pant legs. Splash in the puddles. \u00a0Take pleasure and benefit from the textures and coolness of the water.<\/p>\n

Two thousand years ago, Jesus and his disciples walked continually. \u00a0In fact, in those days, everyone walked several miles a day. \u00a0Times have changed. \u00a0Modern transportation can easily take us thousands of miles in one day. \u00a0However, some of the greatest stress-relieving benefits can be found through the healthy and simple exercise of walking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I first began writing to meet a deadline, I found that I could sit at the computer for only a limited number of hours. \u00a0Every 15 minutes or so, I would walk around the house or yard. \u00a0I might get a glass of iced tea or stroll through the yard. \u00a0After a couple of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,10,16,85,12,4,152,1],"tags":[21,688,165,699,701,57,692,6,700,710,166],"class_list":["post-874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-inspirational","category-intellectual-disability","category-prayer-2","category-religion","category-simple-truths","category-stress","category-uncategorized","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-eliminating-stress","tag-faith","tag-inspiration","tag-prayer","tag-religion","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-spirituality","tag-stress","tag-walking"],"yoast_head":"\nEliminating stress-Take a walk - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/eliminating-stress-take-a-walk.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Eliminating stress-Take a walk - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When I first began writing to meet a deadline, I found that I could sit at the computer for only a limited number of hours. \u00a0Every 15 minutes or so, I would walk around the house or yard. \u00a0I might get a glass of iced tea or stroll through the yard. \u00a0After a couple of…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/eliminating-stress-take-a-walk.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-06-22T09:54:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-06-20T03:01:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2011\/06\/walkers-on-beach.jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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