The greatest gift you can give yourself is time

Michelle shares about the benefits of walking for self care and self management.

Time to do the things that keep your mind and body healthy. Time to connect with others. Time for you to reflect and recharge your batteries.

Easier said than done, I hear you say. I know for many taking time can be a real challenge. Prioritising physical activity above all else that needs doing can feel near impossible, but what if it was even 5 minutes per day?

The NHS offer great advice and an app available to support activity, starting with 10 minutes per day. Download the NHS app (this link will take you away from our website).

Let’s say you do have time; we want to talk about our Health Walks. We understand each person has their own unique barriers to exercise. Here at Glasgow Health Walks, we want to invite everyone in.

The programme is designed to work around the needs and commitments of our walkers so everyone is encouraged to go at their own pace and can dip in and out when it suits them doing as little or as much as they feel able to.

People don’t always feel motivated to exercise but with the selling point of connection, even on their worst days our walkers are happy to get out, meet up with likeminded people and maybe even go for a tea/coffee afterwards.

The walks are FREE, friendly and last around an hour. Across Glasgow there are over 50 walks a week enabling people to get active and enjoy a local park or greenspace in the safety and company of others. We also offer FREE Themed Walks that include visiting various landmarks across the city focusing on heritage, art, history and culture. An opportunity for people to walk with a purpose.

More information about Glasgow Life health walks (this link will take you away from our website).

If you live out-with Glasgow you can visit ‘Paths for All’, the National Charity supporting walking for health across Scotland to find walks in your area (this link will take you away from our website).

Honour yourself through time!

Whatever your choice of activity is, honour yourself by doing more of that.

The physical benefits of exercise are widely published with compelling evidence (this link will take you away from our website) that physical activity has huge health benefits for everyone, especially for people living with one or more long term condition.

However, while I fully support the physical and health benefits of exercise, I want to focus on the social/economic benefits of exercise/activity/sports.

I want to talk about the health and well-being aspect of participating in activity; delve right into the stronger sense of self, increased value in body image, a greater sense of belonging, and teamwork, all the amazing things that can happen when physically active.

The sense of belonging, the lifelong benefits of being fit, active, and healthy can be enjoyed at all levels.

How can you find the time, even on your worst day?

My advice to anyone looking to get active is to start small and find an activity you enjoy: if you love walking then walk, if you love dancing then dance. The key is in the enjoyment, and the habits you create along the way.

For some, if able, it is a step back into activities you once enjoyed, for others it’s about finding a new way of working; introducing meditation, gardening, a you tube class. Anything at all that lifts your mood and maintains health is worth a shot. Only you can decide on that.

No one gets to choose how you exercise other than you. Your body, your call.

“Self- Care is essential. Put your own oxygen mask on”

How will you honour yourself today?

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