10 Minutes of Your Day You Can’t Afford to Skip

Your life is demanding. 

Your schedule is hectic. 

Your self-care is probably inadequate–if not completely neglected. 

It’s surprising you even have a spare moment to read an article like this. But take a few more minutes to read on; you’ll be glad you did. Because carving out a little more time for yourself is exactly what this is all about. 

What if all you needed was ten minutes a day to make a significant improvement in your health, mood and overall well-being? Welcome to the transformative power of the 10-minute walk.

Here a few of the surprising benefits of a 10-minute walk: 

1. Boost Your Mood and Mental Clarity

Who couldn’t use a little mood boost? Putting your phone down, going outside, and getting your body moving helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression–in as little as ten minutes. Your body and your mind are not machines built to run around the clock–although maybe life would be easier if they were! Put simply, breaking up your day with a short walk increases circulation, activating a physiological response that can help activate some of the happy brain chemicals we need to feel good. Plus, you get a nice sense of accomplishment just by doing something for yourself, no matter how small you may think it is.  When we set small goals and complete them, it builds confidence. It’s an easy way to give yourself a “win” for the day. 

2. Physical Health Benefits

Studies show walking helps with cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart disease.  You’ll burn calories and get your heart rate up.  Not to mention, walking for 10 minutes after a big meal can help with digestion or stomach pains from eating! The more you begin to incorporate movement and walking into your routine, the easier it will be to manage your weight.  

3. Increase Energy Levels   

Increasing blood flow can also help with energy levels.  Because physical activity stimulates circulation, more oxygen flows to the brain which creates a natural energy boost.  Next time you start having a mid-day slump, ditch the caffeine and try a walk outside instead.

4. Creating a Consistent Routine

This is the secret in the sauce. The key to a healthy lifestyle is all about routine. Taking ten minutes a day to go for a walk is an easy habit you can start building right away. The more you incorporate movement and walking into your daily lifestyle, the more benefits you will see. It’s a positive feedback loop that keeps you feeling motivated and energized. It really is as simple as that. Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Start with the small step of just ten minutes a day. Maybe ten minutes turns into twenty. Twenty into Thirty. If you miss a day, get back to your habit as soon as possible. When you start feeling the benefits, lean into it. 

Conclusion

Is ten minutes a day a lot to ask? If you already feel like there’s not enough hours in the day to get everything done, then yeah, it probably feels like a big ask. But consider this: what if those ten minutes made you more productive? What having a better mood and a clearer mind could help you solve your daily problems a little more efficiently? When you weigh the cost (ten minutes!) against the benefits (improved health, mental clarity, mood, energy) it’s clear that maybe these are ten minutes of your day you can’t afford to skip.