3 Things You Should Think About On Your Walks
Some people like going on walks to clear their heads, but I prefer to fill mine up instead. Here’s what I like to think about when I go for walks.
The things I have to do today
This is probably the last thing anyone wants to think about first thing in the morning because it seems stressful, but planning your day can help prevent those stressful days, so that things don’t just pop up unexpectedly. Plus, you’ll know ahead of time when you can go for a walk, if you block out that time in your busy schedule for the little things that matter to you. But the key thing to remember here is that this planning should start at the beginning of your day, in order to be effective. My morning routine keeps me energized and confident to seize the day. I always check out my work calendar first thing in the morning, so that I can plan ahead for errands during lunch and foresee any schedule conflicts ahead of time. I also block out 15 minute breaks throughout the day to step away from my computer, even if it’s just wash the dishes from breakfast this morning or go back upstairs and make my bed. And of course, the dinner menu must be planned, otherwise ordering take-out for dinner would be a daily occurrence.
The things I’m grateful for
I’ve read so many articles about how important it is to be intentional about reminding yourself what your grateful for. There are so many gratitude journals and other boths that ask questions that encourage you to think about different aspects of your life. Check out some of my favorite Amazon picks below! Even with everything going on around me (i.e.- The COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 U.S. Election, etc.), I try my best to remember that it could be worse. Thankfully, I’m still healthy and employed. And I have so many other things to be grateful for, like an amazing family that loves me and a supportive significant other.
What are you thankful for? It can be anything! A few friends who are parents have expressed gratitude for the 30 minutes they have alone each day. Another friend recently told he was thankful for his job because work keeps him sane. I suppose for many, work gives them a sense of purpose.
Here are some more questions to think about on your next activity, whether it’s a walk, run, jog, or bike ride. And perhaps, you can challenge yourself to think about your answers to the questions below and compare them to what they would have been before the COVID-19 pandemic. If your pre and post-COVID answers are very different, consider why that might be.
What are you grateful for?
Which of those things are you most thankful for?
Who are you most thankful for?
When’s the last time you let that person know that you appreciate them"?
How often do you complain about things?
The things I need to change
There are things that I’m either not so thrilled about or just flat-out unhappy with in my life; And I need to change those things. They say “there is always room for improvement.” Well, I constantly find things that I can do better with, like eating healthier, working out more, learning how to do something better. I learn new stitches every month, so that I can grow my knitting skillset. I try new recipes for dinner so I don’t get bored of eating healthy, but also because I really enjoy cooking. Don’t criticize yourself too much, but try to think of something you’d like to improve or change. Then, come up with the first step towards improving that thing. It might mean signing up for a class or calling a friend for help with something. I recently started taking more classes about effective communication and social media advertising on LinkedIn Learning, which is going to help me a lot at work and for promoting my blog content on various social media platforms.
