Paula Rochon is a geriatrician and researcher focusing on women and aging, and she is often asked by women what they can do to age well. She says it comes down to using common sense about the things you can do to boost your health and well-being and lessen feelings of loneliness. And one way you can do that, she says, is by walking.
Yes, the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other is a simple thing you can do to age well, according to Rochon in her opinion piece in the Hamilton Spectator. Before the pandemic, Rochon herself walked just shy of 155 kilometres over the course of one week on the West Highland Way in Scotland. The exhilarating walk got her thinking about walking in a different way, and she looked at it as a simple outing that could play a big part in our mental and physical health, especially so through the challenging day-to-day routine of the pandemic.
On the long walk she completed, Rochon came to realize that walking not only helps improve your physical well-being, but also creates opportunities to connect with people socially, which helps to alleviate feelings of loneliness. She says even if you walk alone, you’re bound to meet people while out there.
For more about the health benefits of getting all your steps in, and which gender walks more than the other, and why now, as the pandemic continues, is a great time to take the first steps out of your front door, you can read her full piece at the Hamilton Spectator.
Read more:
This 71-Year-Old Actress Says Being Older Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Exist
Six Ways to Improve the Quality of Your Diet
Are You Getting Divorced? Grey Divorce is Increasing—Here’s Why
