by Jean Sidden

Created on: September 16, 2009

Walking is one of the surest ways to clear you mind, get your thoughts in order and meditate while achieving wonderful health benefits. If you find that you don't have time or motivation to walk the 10,000 steps a day that's recommended, it may be that you haven't found all the ways those steps can be found.

First purchase a pedometer that counts steps. These are extremely inexpensive and clip to your clothes. Go through a normal day and

check the pedometer. You may be happily surprised at the number but will no doubt need to find ways to increase your steps.

It's recommended that if we want to achieve 10,000 steps a day we come up with a plan that varies short walks with long walks. Some days we'll have the energy to achieve all our steps in long walks and some days we'll need to use our shorter walks. The question most of us ask is where do we walk and when?

If you work full time, lunchtime is a great opportunity to walk. A half hour lunch can start with ten minutes of brisk walking and then eating your lunch. There are probably a number of interested people at your work place who would enjoy walking with you and it's always easier to get going with a buddy. If you don't have a neighborhood around your office share the driving and go to a close mall and walk there. Mall walking is a trend that many people have taken up quite seriously. Get up from your desk and walk around the office a few times, always with your pedometer, so you can track how many steps it takes. See if your company would be interested in sponsoring a walk-a-thon for charity. This accomplishes a number of goals not the least of which is it tends to turn a greater number of people on to walking.

At home, and while we're speaking of buddies, there's nothing better to get you out of the house and moving than taking your dog for a walk. You may be surprised how many people are outside doing the same thing and what a community of folks and pets it is. Dog walking is contagious. As soon as a neighbor with a dog sees someone out walking theirs, they leash up and join in. Once you get in one dog walk a day you'll find out how eager your pet will be if you decide to add another. Morning and evening dog walks will increase your steps and make your dog very happy.

There may be a high school in close vicinity to your home with a track that's open to the public before and after school and in the summer. This is a wonderful surface to walk on though usually not a place for your dog. Grab your son or daughter or significant other and take a few turns around the track when you get home from work. You'll find it regenerating and a great way to rev up for the remainder of your evening.

The one big opportunity to walk is transportation. We forget, since we're in cars all the time, that walking is a way to actually get somewhere. If you need to run a quick errand within a walkable proximity to where you are, you'll save gas, get out in the fresh air and, the way traffic runs, more than likely get there and back in a surprisingly reasonable amount of time.

Every chore we do at home is an opportunity to be up and moving and adding to our steps per day. Joining a walking club or hiking on the weekends gets you on different surfaces and up and down hills, one of the best ways to really burn calories. Explore your town - park your car in an area you've never seen before and talk a walking tour.

On all of these outings be sure to take your pedometer. After a while you more than likely won't need it and will have an instinct for how many steps you've taken. You'll also find pleasure in walking and being outside seeing your world first hand instead of always from behind the windshield of a car.

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