If I convince you to take action and do one thing, it’d be walking. Our modern life does not compel us to walk enough, so we have to do it intentionally.

Think about it. How much do you really walk? It probably goes something like this: get up, shower, walk to car, drive car, walk to desk, sit, walk to coffee, sit, walk to bathroom, sit, etc.

Everyone has heard the phrase use it or lose it. Well, use it or lose it! If you don’t walk, you’ll lose the ability. Just look around at the elderly and witness how most of them walk. Funny thing about living in Phoenix? The amount of “mobility” stores that sold motorized scooters to senior citizens who have lost the ability move around. It doesn’t have to be that way–we have in our mind that we’ll get old and decrepit, but that’s in the mind. Some people think they are old when they are 30. Some people think they are 90 years young. The mind is powerful.

Back in college I worked at Burger King. On break, I was standing out in the parking lot and I saw a lady who must have been in her late 60s or early 70s. She came zipping through the parking lot–walking with determined purpose–carrying her groceries. If I had gotten in her way she looked like she could have plowed right through me! That could be you! Or will you be at the mobility shop in your 70′s, buying a walker?

I’m not saying walking is the king of all exercises, or that it will make you lose a bunch of weight (cutting your calories will), or that it will give you six pack abs (stop mindlessly chasing societal ideals!). I’m saying that walking is a critical skill that if lost will take away a huge portion of your freedom. Develop a walking habit now!

Increase the Effectiveness of your Walking

Walking gives you a great chance to work on your breathing. A great way to do this is by doing a breathing ladder. Breathe in one step then breathe out the next. Then breathe in for two steps and out for two steps. Then three. Then four. Go as many steps breathing in / out as you can and then start over. You’ll increase your lung capacity and learn how to use your full lung when you breathe.