How walking every day made me happier
I remembered reading somewhere that walking at least 30 minutes a day could benefit my physical and mental health. It is also good exercise if I am extremely out of shape and looking to improve my fitness levels.
And it worked.
Short Story
I used to base my life on the money I had in my bank account. If you see me prancing around like a unicorn, it means I have a healthy amount of money in my bank. On the other hand, if you see me dragging my feet like a zombie, my bank account is pretty much shit.
I made a bad investment during the start of this year and lost everything. I was extremely depressed and hopeless. Every night, I would smoke two packs of cigarettes and look up at the building beside me. I would then picture myself jumping off it, and since my happiness was based on the money in my bank account, I expected the worst.
Then, I remembered something.
Tomorrow might be a better day.
The day after the next might be better.
Next week might be even better.
If you die now, you will never have a chance to see it.
I decided to give myself a chance and walk my pain off.
Day 1 sucked. My whole world was crashing, and I was dizzy as hell. I walked for about an hour, and every step I took wasn’t enjoyable. I was sleep-deprived, too.
Rinse and repeat.
I soldiered on my walks for a few weeks without giving up.
I felt better.
It took me less than an hour to complete my usual route.
I was more focused on my tasks throughout the day.
I was more eager to get back on my feet.
I was more alert when I was on the job.
I started listening to podcasts or motivational videos during my walks, and it greatly benefited my personal growth. Sometimes, I was so focused on the podcasts or motivational videos that I was not aware that I had already exceeded my walking goals for that morning; I kept on walking.
This exercise built my discipline and consistency. Sometimes, I was drained and did not feel like going for a walk, but I did it anyway.
Ok, 5 minutes at least.
Then, it became 30 minutes without me realising.
I work out daily, mixing up my routines with walks, cardio workouts, body weight exercises, and high-intensity stuff.
Even though I am still at my lowest, I no longer need to base my happiness on the amount of money in my bank account. Even with little to no money in my bank account, I can still persevere and achieve what I thought was unachievable: committing to walking every day.
When I can make money again, I will be more than ready to accept it with my arms wide open.
The healthy way.
Thanks for reading!
