If you haven’t exercised in a while, or are looking for something easy you can do every single day, let me tell you why walking in nature is worth a try. It’s the perfect low impact way to exercise. It’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment and you can start at the fitness level you’re at.

If you’re not in the best of shape, start by going for a 10 or 15 minute walk around the neighborhood’s park and work your way up from there. If you’re already in great shape, walking can still provide an effective workout. Walk fast and incorporate some hills and walk further away to create a bigger challenge.

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. If you’re like most of us, chances are you haven’t exercised much since you got out of college and need to start small. Maybe your doctor suggested that you move around more, or maybe you just want to be proactive about your health and well-being. In either case, walking is the perfect way to start. 

Find a pair of comfortable shoes, put them on and go for a stroll through your closest nature spot. You could also find a hike path you can walk on. For an added benefit get a fitbit to help you record how much you’re actually moving, and to see how this number grows as you keep building your new habit.  

You can even walk in place at home in your yard. And although walking in nature might be most appealing with the wonders of fresh air and sights, here’s a simple little idea to get you moving more even at home. As you’re sitting on the couch at night watching TV, get up during commercial breaks and march in place until your favorite TV show comes back on. If you’re using a service like Netflix, make yourself walk in place for 10 minutes in between episodes. Or turn on the TV and challenge yourself to march in place during the entire show. Time will fly while you’re having fun watching TV and moving.

Speaking of having fun, mix up your route and walk in different areas of town, or visit different parks. Invite a friend to come along with you to walk. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to and having a walking buddy keeps you accountable. Last but not least, grab your phone or MP3 player and listen to music or audio books as you walk to make the time go by faster.

The main thing is that you get out there, move around, and get some exercise in a way that’s gentle on your joints, your heart, and the rest of your body and that’s what walking will do for you. Just give it a try and see if you don’t start to feel better, happier, and stronger after a few weeks of regular walks.