Even my work was benefitting from my outdoor strolls. Coming back to my laptop with a fresh set of eyes and renewed clarity enabled me to be more productive and efficient when tackling the second half of my day. In the past, I would usually feel run down and my brain fried by the time 3pm rolled around – but walking gave me my second wind.

Taking a midday walk with my husband also helped because we would ask each other how our days were going, and by the end of the walk, we would have talked out any work dilemmas or frustrations – helping each other to find solutions.

It wasn’t long before my daily walks in the sunshine became the highlight of my day – feeling the heat on my back and taking note of all the beautiful homes and gardens that I had never noticed before. Not only was walking great exercise – and just as effective as running, I later learned – but it gave me a high. It was the mood-boosting endorphin rush that I needed to break up the monotony of working from home life and quarantine.

If my experience is not enough to convince you, look at the science. In 2018, Public Health England and the Royal College of General Practitioners urged the nation to walk for at least 10 minutes every day to reduce the risk of type II diabetes. Plus, studies show that walking reduces the risk of cardiovascular events by 31% and death by 32%. Now, do you feel like hitting the road? I guess that depends on what it looks like outside at this given moment.

“I started walking every day during lockdown after spending my entire career eating lunch at my desk”