Have you used excuses to keep you from developing a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise? I did. I couldn’t see how I could add in a daily walk to my busy schedule until I learned how to walk and multitask at the same time. Now I get healthy and mark items off my to-do list at the same time!
My brain knew how vitally important an exercise plan was for my life, yet my head convinced me I had too many other irons in the fire to follow through with an exercise regimen consistently.
“I don’t have time to walk.”
“I’m too busy to exercise.”
“I have too many other responsibilities to take time to walk.”
However, when my daughter’s boyfriend proposed and set the wedding for ten months later, I knew I had limited time to lose unwanted (and unhealthy) pounds that I’d slowly added over the last couple of years. Also contributing to my motivation—my active, two-year-old grandson prompted my desire for more energy and stamina. I knew I needed to get healthy, for my sake, as well as for those I love that I wanted to spend quality time with.
How Will I Find Time to Walk?
I don’t work outside the home, but I do work full-time as a journalist and author. (Well, the clock shows full-time … the paycheck doesn’t necessarily reflect “full-time status,” but I certainly enjoy what I do.) Between my writing and managing the home, I always felt like something needed my attention.
Laundry.
Dishes.
Meals.
Pets.
Hubby.
Adult kiddos.
Grandson.
Writing deadlines.
Brainstorming time for new writing projects.
Books to read for pleasure and research.
Phone calls to family members or friend.
Not to mention … time with the Lord.
I didn’t see how I could add in a daily lengthy walk to my busy schedule. Yet my brain kept reminding me of the benefits of walking.
Benefits of a Daily Walk
In an article on the MayoClinic.org site, found here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261, a hefty list boasts these benefits of a daily, brisk walk:
* maintaining a healthy weight
* losing body fat
* preventing or managing heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and type 2 diabetes
* improving cardiovascular fitness
* strengthening bones and muscles
* increasing energy levels
* improving mood
* improving cognition
* improving memory
* improving sleep
* improving balance and coordination
* strengthening the immune system
* reducing stress
*reducing tension
* boosting spirits
* staying strong and active.
The benefits of walking definitely outweigh all of my excuses!
Lace-up the Shoes and Put on the Multitasking Cape
I knew I had to buckle down and start walking! I just had to decide what to cut from my schedule in order to fit it in. Then it dawned on me that perhaps I could multitask while I walked. So many of the items on my “to-do” list for each day could be performed simultaneously with my walks.
When I realized how many bullet points on my to-do list could be marked off with my walk, I felt more motivated to head out the door each morning. Here are a few of the tasks and responsibilities I added to my walks each day.
1) Prayer time
One of my very favorite spots to pray is my front porch swing. For a long time, I’ve loved singing and praying out loud. Something about being outside in God’s creation makes me feel much closer to Him. Well, I figured out quickly that walking with the beauty of God’s creations surrounding me gives me those same close feelings. And got me moving, too.
I stay focused more on my prayers when I talk aloud to God. My mind wanders when I pray silently … to my grocery list to thoughts of “what’s for dinner?” to thoughts about the kids…anything but the Lord. Talking out loud to God, as if He’s right next to me, keeps my thoughts on Him.
I’ll admit, I often feel a tad embarrassed when a neighbor drives by and I appear to be talking to myself, so I stuffed earbuds in my ears to give the impression that I’m listening to music. But, most of the time, I just chat away to the Lord, without a care of who might pay attention as they drive by.
My prayer time is my first priority when I walk in the morning. And, according to the needs of my friends and family and world in general, those times with the Lord can often last over an hour. I start with praise, seek forgiveness for my transgressions, thank Him for His gifts (and I try to be really specific with my thanksgiving!), and then I move on to my petitions.
And, on those days when I have lots on my mind, while I walk and tend to be easily distracted by the new baby calves in the field or the bluebirds flitting on the power lines or the Canada geese flying over in V-formation, well, then I just tell the Lord, “I’m sorry I’m distracted today and seem to be rambling, but, my prayers are sincere, God, and I’m thankful You hear every word uttered from my lips and from my heart.”
2) Administrative Assistant Tasks
My prayer time usually dominates my early-morning walk. When I come to that point in the day when I need to make phone calls—either to check on my aging mom, one of my adult kiddos, or one of my siblings or if I need to schedule a doctor’s appointment or call about an insurance question that I expect to be on hold for an extended period or when I want to check on a sick friend or catch up with a long-distance friend going through chemo or whatever else might occupy my time on the phone, I lace up my shoes and head out the door again. I put the phone on speaker, so that I can pull up my calendar if I’m making an appointment or check a correspondence in my email, and I chat away. It always helps me to keep a running list of “calls to make” in the notes section of my phone. That way, if someone doesn’t answer my call or one call goes quicker than I expected, I check my list for another call to make.
3) Reading Time
As writers, we’re reminded by “those in the know” to read often in our genre, as well as other genres, to improve our writing skills and enhance our creativity. But, as much as I love reading, it always seemed to get pushed lower on my priority list when I needed to fold clothes or cook a meal or do the dishes. Reading felt like “frivolous” time, because I enjoyed it so much. But when I combined it with my afternoon walk, I didn’t feel guilty for “just reading” instead of accomplishing something else on my list.
I downloaded the app from my local library and check out audiobooks for free. Then, I let my phone “read” to me as I walk. I’ve marked so many to-be-read books off my list while adding steps to my daily walk!
4) Podcasts and Sermon Catch-up
I’ve often used my afternoon walks to catch up on a sermon I missed or to listen to another sermon for the week. I tune in to podcasts that I wanted to enjoy but seldom took the time away from my day to listen to an entire episode.
5) Brainstorm Session
Before I added multitasking to my walking sessions, I often curled up in my recliner or sat at my kitchen table to plan my menu for the week, brainstorm a new writing project, or organize my thoughts for my spring cleaning projects. Now, instead of planning in a sedentary posture, I grab my fully-charged phone and head out the door, laces tied up yet again. I clear my head of other thoughts and brainstorm writing ideas. When something piques my interest, I use talk-to-text to jot down my thoughts in the notes section of my phone. Or, I use talk-to-text to send myself an email. I follow the same pattern with my grocery list or menu plan or cleaning agenda.
6) Quality Time with My Hubby
I talked my husband into joining me for evening walks. We eat a light supper when he gets home from work, give our food time to settle, then head out the door for a walk together. We use this time to catch up on his day and mine. Or to catch up on the latest news about our parents, siblings, kids, or friends. We make plans for our next date night or out-of-town trip. Or revisit our budget for the year.
Before we started our nightly walks, we often had these same conversations … while the television blared in the background, or we did dishes together, or while my face was turned towards the computer. Admittedly, we weren’t always focused intently on our conversation, because we were … multitasking. But when we turned that multitasking around, and combined our conversations with walks, then we could focus completely on each other without distractions. (Unless an owl flies over or my biologist-husband spots a luna moth or he needs to point out a constellation. But, those are fun distractions.)
On those rare times that we run out of things to talk about, we’ve often enjoyed a sermon together or listened to a praise song playlist or tuned in to our favorite radio station app. We’ve facetimed our grandson frequently on our walks or called one of the kids on speakerphone so that we could chat together. With limited time at home following a long workday, my husband enjoys the multitasking, as well.
Multitask it Your Way
As a disclaimer, I recognize that my walking and multitasking schedule will look different than yours. I’m in a season of empty nest, with my adult kiddos out of the house. And, I work from home. Your lifestyle may look much different or just slightly different. But, I hope I’ve encouraged you to devise a plan that will get you excited about walking daily, while fitting in tasks from your to-do list with each walk.
I no longer dread my walk each day, with feelings that I’m taking away much-needed time from other responsibilities. Instead, I make it a game to see just how much I can accomplish while I’m walking. I no longer say, “I don’t have time to walk.” Instead, I ask, “What all can I get done today during my walk?” I hope you’ll consider a brisk, daily walk to lead you on a journey to a healthy lifestyle. And mark off those items on the to-do list at the same time!
About the Author
Julie Lavender is a journalist and author and former homeschool mom of four kids. She is married to her high school and college sweetheart, David, and enjoyed following him all over the country as the wife of a Navy preventive medicine officer. Julie is the author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell) and Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime (Zeitgeist/Penguin Random House). Julie is excited that a Focus on the Family Broadcast interview aired in early January, and she’d be honored if you’d tune into the Focus on the Family YouTube channel to listen. Connect with Julie on social media and at https://www.julielavenderwrites.com.
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Great insight into multitasking. Really enjoyed the post. You encouraged me to make walking a priority with a little tweaking instead of feeling like I’m taking away from things I need to do.
I felt the same way. Such great tips–I can walk and get lots of stuff on my to-do-list done at the same time. This morning I walked a mile, inside my home, while on a phone call. It was raining, and I couldn’t walk outside.
Evelyn,
It took me a long time to get to this thought-process! But, I’m so glad I finally figured out how to “tweak” my walks so that I didn’t feel like I was taking time away from other things! Thanks for the comment!!!
You provided excellent advice in this blog. I am grateful that it has motivated me to walk more. Thank you!