When to Walk
To a large extent your schedule will dictate when you can go walking. For instance, you may have to work your walking in around time when you are on the job or at school? You may also need to coordinate your walking routine with the time when you are running errands and fulfilling various commitments.
Trial and error will work for many, but for some when to walk choices are fairly obvious. Young parents with children in school will choose a time when the kids are in class, while teachers who are in the classroom until mid-afternoon will probably choose late afternoon or early evening hours to go walking. We all choose the times that are most convenient and comfortable for us.
When you decide to walk is a factor that can impact how successful you will be. You should develop an awareness of how the time of day you choose may affect your walking regimen. Are you a morning person? Do you rise promptly and happily or does your snooze button get more of a workout than you do? A person who hates mornings and opts to walk at the crack of dawn is probably not going to be a very successful walker.
Studies have shown that we are most likely to stick to an exercise when it is part of our daily lives. Walking lends itself to this concept in locales where it is possible to travel on foot to work, school, shopping, church, entertainment, etc. This enables us to incorporate walking into activities that we would be doing anyway. So your choice of where to live can also make a big difference in the long-term success of your walking program.
Environmental Factors
Often the weather will influence when you can walk or shouldn't be out in the elements. It may narrow your walking options considerably. In summer it is probably best to avoid the heat of the hours around noon. During winter months the mid-afternoon hours are the warmest, and therefore the preferable time of day to walk outside. On days when inclement weather is predicted for the evening, you might want to walk early in the day. A word about rain: one of the most enjoyable walks can be experienced on a warm spring day during a light rain.
Other Factors
There are other factors that will influence your decision of when, or where, to walk. Mall walking at 4:00 o'clock on Christmas Eve is probably a bad idea. So is walking in an unfamiliar area in the early morning or late at night. If you find it more enjoyable to walk with others, one thing that could complicate the time you choose to walk is the availability of your walking partners. The key is to become aware of what works best for you, and to be as flexible as you can.
Suggestions for When to Walk Schedules
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: Early morning in a local mall, or mid to late afternoon at a gym or health club with treadmill or indoor track.
COLD WEATHER
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: Mid to late afternoon around your neighborhood, at a high school track, in a city park, or on a nearby hiking trail.
FAIR WEATHER
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: Early morning or Mid to late afternoon around your neighborhood, at a high school track, in a city park, or on a nearby hiking trail.
HOT WEATHER
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: Early morning in a local mall, around your neighborhood, at a high school track, in a city park, or on a nearby hiking trail.
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