Walk to Work Day

Walk to Work Day

This November the 13th is Diabetes Australia's annual Walk to Work Day, a day that encourages all those who are able to walk to work instead of driving or using public transport. This is the 18th year of Walk to Work Day, which is an initiative to raise funds for Diabetes Australia. The aim is to not only encourage walking to work for the day, but to increase the frequency of walking every day.

Personal trainer and wellbeing expert Laura Moore is a passionate advocate of the importance of staying active. 'Regular walking is absolutely vital for a healthy body and an equally healthy mind. For many people, our daily lives are so sedentary. We move but a fraction of the amount our ancestors did and with this has come great consequences such as diabetes and obesity," says Laura. 'Scientific research shows us that exercise helps us deal with stress, elevates mood, increases cognitive function and replenishes our energy levels. Imagine benefiting from all that before you even step foot in the door of the office in the morning!"

'In today's society, we find ourselves overstimulated all the time, which causes the body to release hormones and chemicals to help bring it back to a state of balance. A simple walk can be invaluable in naturally restoring these levels (or preventing them from becoming imbalanced in the first place) as it gives the brain time to switch off and calm down, while experiencing the benefits of physical activity at the same time," says Laura.

Obviously not everyone has the luxury of living in walking distance to their workplace, but Walk to Work Day is really about being active however you can – whether it's using public transport half the way and walking the rest, taking a thirty minute break at lunch to go for a walk or even holding a walking meeting.

Alex Hsu is the founder of fitness footwear website The Next Pair and he is responsible for keeping Australians looking stylish while walking to and from work. The Next Pair is stocked with over 1,500 of the latest designer styles from recognised global brands such as Nike, Asics, Converse, Vans and more. It carries a range of models which are both supportive and stylish with office attire.

'We're hoping that the better Aussies feel about their walk to work, the more motivated they are going to be to do it regularly. It's so important to have the right footwear, to provide comfort and support when walking for long distances. I often see people leaving work in their heels, business shoes or ballet flats which is fine for a short stroll but could potentially cause long-term damage if they are walking for prolonged periods of time. People often see sneakers as a fashion statement, which they are of course, but having the right footwear is so much more than that," says Alex.

'Walking is not only good for the body and mind, but also for the environment. If we can cut down on the amounts of cars and buses on the roads, we can reduce vehicle emissions and improve the quality of the air we breathe. It's a win-win really!" says Alex.

Alex's five tips for making the walk to work more enjoyable are:
1) Finding the right shoes and socks – suits and sneakers rarely go in the same sentence, but when it comes to defining your own style and walking comfortably, look no further than a pair of Converse. I recommend wearing athletic shoes for any walk of over 10 minutes. Choose a lightweight, breathable, supportive shoe. Sweat wicking socks are good as an addition.

2) Plan your route – use quieter side streets or greenway paths as much as possible. Skip crossing major streets to avoid the noise and delay.

3) Carrying your gear – a briefcase, handbag or shoulder bag is likely to be uncomfortable to carry for more than ten minutes. Switching to a backpack will allow you to carry your load while maintaining good walking posture. This can help prevent back ache from walking with poor body alignment. Avoid carrying anything in your hands, which can lead to repetitive strain for your neck, shoulder, elbow or wrist.

4) Timing your walk – average out the time of your walks and add a few extra minutes to allow for hazards, inclement weather, or sprucing yourself up at work. Adding some time on either side allows you to be settled in when you actually start working, increasing productivity.

5) Groove to some tunes – the walk to work not only burns extra calories, but listening to upbeat music will elevate or relax your mood on the way in. Alternatively, catch up on the latest news on-the-go with a podcast.

For more info on The Next Pair visit www.thenextpair.com.au
For more info on Walk to Work Day and to donate visit www.walk.com.au/wtw/homepage.asp