Walking and Talking

There is something about laughing and yapping with friends that make exercising so much more fun. For me, walking with my girlfriends makes it seem more like a catchup session instead of a workout. Not every girlfriend meetup has to cost money or involve food. Free meetups can sometimes be the best meetups. Here are some things I considered when I decided to start walking with friends and some things that has kept me consistent for over a year now.

1. No Pressure. Start by walking around the corner. The thought of walking 4, 5 or 6 miles might be a daunting task for some. But if you start without any certain goal, you'll find that you've walked pretty far without even noticing.

2. Find people in your area. It's easier to walk when you live in the same area. My friends all live within walking distance or within 5 minutes of driving. Meeting up doesn't require a long sit in traffic, just a hope and a skip and we are on our way.

3. Listen. When you're walking with your friends, sometimes you'll notice that everyone has a lot to say about their day or week. Be a listening ear and give any feedback to what your friends have to say. Make them feel secure with sharing and chatting. Walking in silence because no one wants to talk, is no fun.

4. Be Open. Not everyone will have the same walking schedule. Be flexible to working out a walking time that works best for everyone. It's a compromise. If you want to walk with friends, it's best to be fair with coordinating walking times and spots. This will ensure your walks won't be done alone.

5. Invite new people. If you don't have any friends that you can walk with and want to walk with others, send out a post on your neighborhood page or friend group. See if anyone is open to walking with you. It's a great way to build new relationships.

Now is the time to set some healthy lifestyle goals and walking with friends is the perfect way to start. See you on the sidewalk!