How Family Walks Can Improve Health and Happiness

Spending time with family doesn’t only mean you have to have dinner in a fancy restaurant or go for a movie night on weekends. A family walk can be the easiest yet the most effective way to spend quality time with your family, especially with the kids.

With the rise of technology and gadget usage, today’s kids are more glued to the screens than ever. Even if they are not, the long day of school, rigorous syllabus and other activities become stressful and tiring, leaving them with limited to no time to spend with family. However, we cannot just blame the kids’ schedule; our busy day of work can also be the reason. A family walk can benefit your kids and yourself in terms of health and happiness. Including a 30-45 minute walk with your kids in your daily routine is not only refreshing but also has plenty of health benefits. Let’s discuss this in detail.

Indulge in Nature with Your Family

With spring almost starting, the changes in nature bring the calming scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. Walking in nature during this time around can be the real stress buster. While you are accustomed to smelling artificial scents, be it men’s perfume or, women’s or even room freshener, you get to indulge yourself with your family in the refreshing scent of nature. However, you can include wearing perfume in your family walk as a ritual to create a stronger family bond. Go for a walk in the nearest park or wherever you feel disconnected from the screens and reconnect with nature to take deep breaths of fresh air. This promotes mindfulness and allows everyone to de-stress and be present in the moment.

Build Physical Strength Together

Daily exercise is always recommended to maintain good physical health. But going to the gym, being consistent with fancy workout routines, and especially fitting it into our daily lives as a family can be a challenge. A family walk daily doesn’t need much planning. You can just wear your shoes, head to the streets or parks, and stroll briefly. The best thing about it is a wide range of fitness levels can be achieved. As you walk, your heart rate increases, your cardiovascular system strengthens, and your circulatory system improves. Even a 30-minute brisk walk can make a big difference if you do it consistently.

Increase Family Bonding and Overall Mood

Any kind of physical activity increases your serotonin and dopamine levels, which can lead to improved mood, reduced stress and a sense of well-being. Family walks can be considered one of the best ways to increase your and your family’s dopamine levels. Also, it’s a great opportunity to improve your family bonding. You can chat, laugh, and share stories while walking together without being distracted by the screens. This will help strengthen relationships, lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and promote relaxation.

Tips to Make Family Walks a Habit

Family walks are a much-needed escape from the daily grind, but you need to start small to make it a routine or habit. Here are some tips you can follow:

Begin with short walks and gradually increase the distance and duration as your fitness improves.
Explore parks, trails or even your neighbourhood. This will keep everyone motivated.
Let the kids also choose the route, pack snacks or pick the music so they feel involved.
Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing while going for a walk.

Include Family Walks Into Your Daily Routine

Family walks are a perfect way to strengthen your and your family’s physical and mental health. Even a 20-30-minute walk daily or a few times a week is fine, but make sure you involve everyone in the process and make it a collaborative effort. Leave the electronics behind and use this time to talk and catch up with each other.