When was the last time you went for a walk? Maybe it was quite recently. It is possible that you are a regular walker—someone who enjoys getting from here to there on foot when you can. If that describes you, you may discover you can walk away from the rest of this particular blog post.
But it is also possible that you are not much of a walker. Sure, you get in a few steps throughout the day, but only in short bursts. There is a good chance you try to keep even those occasional bursts as short as possible by, for example, parking as close to your destination as you can. Maybe you reflexively jump in your car even when you are headed somewhere that is quite nearby.
If you fall into that latter category of folks who do not do much walking and you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, we want to walk you through how walking can provide support for your ongoing efforts to leave drugs and alcohol in your past.
We should note here that we are mindful that not everyone is physically capable of walking or of walking significant distances. If that is the case for you, the following advice may not directly apply to you. Still, our underlying point is that exercise of any kind in any amount offers benefits for a person in recovery from a substance use disorder. If you can add some exercise to your daily routine, we certainly recommend that you do so.
Exercise—Including Walking—Boosts Your Recovery Efforts
When it comes to supporting your recovery, leaning into regular exercise is one of the very best things you can do for yourself. That is because exercise supports your physical health and also your mental health. In turn, better physical and mental health give a boost to your recovery.
There are, of course, many options when it comes to exercise, but few of those options are as easy to add to your routine as walking.
Walking Can Fit into Your Schedule
One of the reasons a person might put off creating an exercise routine is that they feel—rightly or wrongly—that they simply do not have time in their busy life for the activity. It is possible to make that case if you think exercising must include going to a gym or spending hours engaging in exhausting physical activity.
That, however, is a narrow view of what exercise can be. Adding a 10-minute walk to your day is a great way to get started. You do not have to go anywhere special, you do not need any special equipment (though we do advise you to invest in some comfortable and supportive shoes), and you do not need to worry that other exercises are judging your form or your stamina. Just start where you are, walk a ways away, and then walk back.
There Are Easy Ways to Add to Your Daily Step Count
We mentioned above that many people are committed to parking as close to their destination as possible. Others are big fans of taking the elevator rather than stairs. Some people might decide to drive to their favorite coffee shop, even if that shop is quite nearby.
Shifting those behaviors can easily add some steps to your day. Park a little further away, take the stairs (or at least climb a flight or two before taking the elevator the rest of the way to your floor), and leave the car at home when you can walk to your destination. These small changes can add up to significant additions to your daily step count.
Increase the Benefit by Walking With a Buddy
Walking is a great exercise for folks who want to spend healthy time with a friend or family member. Generally speaking, the exercise is gentle enough that it does not impede your ability to chat while you stride along.
Strong relationships are central to your recovery efforts, and walking with a buddy is a great way to strengthen a connection. Walking is something you do (or at least should do) without scrolling on your phone or whatnot, and that means you can engage in real conversation as your steps add up and your health and recovery benefit.
Walk Right into Wooded Glen to Get the Help You Need
Sometimes walking aimlessly with no particular destination in mind can be a wonderful experience. But if you need help overcoming a substance use disorder, directing your feet toward Wooded Glen Recovery Center is an excellent idea. Located in Henryville, Indiana, Wooded Glen provides personalized treatment programs because each individual has a unique story and specific needs.
That said, the staff at Wooded Glen is deeply committed to evidence-based approaches that are underpinned by our high levels of expertise, years of experience, and ethos of empathy. We are here to help—never to judge. Our team will walk you through a proven program of medically supervised detoxification, a rehabilitation strategy built around individual and group therapy sessions, and an aftercare project that keeps you connected with Wooded Glen and other alums of treatment.
Ready to get help? Walk this way.