The Seven-Day Walking Experiment: More Than Just Physical Health

You know that I'm a daily walker but does it really matter what time of day I go?

I want to share with you the journey I embarked on recently—a seven-day early morning walking experiment. Spoiler alert: the results were not what I expected in more ways than one—but in the very best ways possible.

When I kicked off this mini-challenge, the mission was to determine if just seven days of early morning walking could visibly improve my overall health. Yep, just one week. I know, it seems ambitious, but I had my reasons. For one, I've been noticing some dips in my HRV (Heart Rate Variability) over the past month or so, which could be due to me walking later in the day rather than first thing in the morning. Would a week of early morning walks make a difference?

Walking through November, or as we call it here, "Greyvember," was a real trip. The fog was so thick on some mornings that I felt like I was stepping into a living analogy—life can be foggy sometimes, right? But as always, nature has its way of bringing clarity. One of the perks I always forget about early morning walks is that the weather is typically more stable. This lesson hit home even more as I ventured out in the cold, sometimes slushy mornings.

I started to notice subtler, yet profoundly impactful changes. Initially, I was a bit let down that my HRV and readiness scores didn’t soar. But then it hit me—my sleep was improving, my creativity was flowing, I felt less stressed, and overall, more accomplished. These changes are invaluable, especially as I've realized that optimal vitality isn't just about the physical; it's deeply intertwined with mental and emotional wellness.

On day five, I felt a bit disheartened, seeing that some metrics hadn’t improved as much as I had hoped. However, given my age (51 and approaching 52), I started considering that these internal metrics might take longer to show significant shift. Then came the realization: just because the changes aren’t visible on a device doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. There’s more to health than data points.

Perimenopause may also be playing a role here. Our bodies are such intricate systems, and as I sail through this stage, these changes are a part of my journey. This experiment validated what I've always believed—it takes more than seven days to see substantial changes.

Moving forward, I'm sticking with my morning walks. This routine just feels right for me. However, flexibility is key. If there's a snowfall, shoveling becomes my workout. If I feel like doing yoga, I'll do that. The aim is to engage in activities that bring joy and energy.

So, what’s your game plan for incorporating walking into your life? If you’re curious to dive deeper, check out my next video where I explore walking plans that might just be the perfect fit for you. Let's keep moving, both literally and metaphorically.

See you out there! 🚶‍♀️✨