In a recent post, we made the case that regular exercise is a key activity when it comes to supporting your recovery. In that post, we made a passing reference to getting in the habit of taking short walks as a possible place to start when it comes to getting some exercise.
That quick note probably undersells all the recovery benefits that are available to you when you add walking to your regular routine. So in this entry, we are going to consider walking from a variety of angles to demonstrate how it can provide ongoing support for your recovery journey.
We will start with a quick reminder of the ways in which exercise—including walking—can be a key aspect of your work to leave drugs and alcohol behind.
A quick note: For those with mobility challenges, the following advice might not seem relevant. Still, each benefit of walking we discuss below can be achieved in other ways, and so the ideas may apply to your recovery journey.
Walking as Exercise
The benefits of exercise boil down to two key facts: Exercise supports your physical health and your mental health. Improvement in each of those areas supports your recovery.
Those truths are why we consistently argue for the inclusion of regular exercise in your recovery routines. And adding some walking to your day can be a great way to get started. At first, that might mean something as simple as parking a little farther away from your destination or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You can get more exercise—and therefore more recovery support—by adding a short walk to your day and increasing the distance over time.
Walking as Stress Relief
Life is stressful, and it can be especially so for a person working to keep their recovery intact. Walking can be a great way to get some relief from daily stress.
That is true, in part, because getting up from your desk or your couch to take a stroll allows you to reset. Often, a brief change in focus can help lessen the stress you are feeling—and can even help you be more productive when you return to your previous task or plunge ahead to your next responsibility.
Walking as Social Activity
You don’t have to walk alone. Getting together with a friend (or friends) to walk is a great way to get the benefits of social interaction along with the benefits of exercise and stress relief.
Loneliness can be an enemy of recovery, and sharing the activity of walking with others can help keep those feelings of solitude at bay. You can also walk with others in an effort to get things done. A walking meeting can be refreshing rather than boring, and you might even find that your creativity is unlocked by thinking through things while you are in motion.
Walking as Exploration
A spirit of curiosity can be a boon for a person in recovery, and walking in new places or taking care to pay closer attention to familiar places can lead to delightful discoveries.
Maybe you will start to spot lovely architectural details on the houses in your neighborhood. Perhaps you will find a new path through the park that leads you to a beautiful and peaceful spot. Maybe you will spot a new small business or restaurant you would like to check out. Walking can reveal many things you might not ordinarily notice.
Walking as Transportation
Arguably, we might have led with this idea. At its most basic level, walking is a way to get from one place to another.
So many of us, however, tend to drive to our destination—even when it is not so far away. Choosing to walk, however, gives you access to all of the benefits above while saving you money on gas and benefiting the environment at the same time.
Walking as Service
When we mention walking as a kind of service, the various walks for important causes might spring to mind. We certainly encourage you to participate in any such walk that speaks to you and the causes that are important to you.
But you can offer service while walking in other ways. For example, you could set out with a bag so you can pick up litter along the way. You can greet those you meet on your walk with a friendly smile as a small but important way to build a sense of community. And, of course, you offer an important service to your pet when you take them for a walk.
Recovery Is No Walk in the Park, but We Can Help
At Bel Aire Recovery Center, located near Wichita, Kansas, we help individuals who want to leave drugs or alcohol behind. We provide personalized care—which includes addressing mental health disorder that may be tangled up with a substance use disorder—and are committed to supporting those we serve even after treatment comes to an end.
We know the road to recovery can be a challenging one to walk. At Bel Aire, we are committed to walking alongside you as you reclaim your life. When you are ready to start your journey, we are ready to join you so you can get off to a successful start.
