Vanderbilt will celebrate National Walking Day from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, with a 20-minute group walk starting at Eskind Biomedical Library and ending on Library Lawn.
Being physically active is important for your overall wellness. Regular physical activity can help you:
- Lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce or control blood pressure.
- Raise your HDL, or “good,” cholesterol.
- Reduce your risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer.
- Sleep better.
- Have more energy to do the things you love.
Physical activity is anything that makes you move your body and burn calories. This includes things like climbing stairs, gardening, housework, walking the dog, playing sports and dancing, as well as traditional aerobic activities such as walking, running, swimming and biking. Strengthening and stretching exercises are also good for overall stamina and flexibility.
Get active at work
Park and walk. How many times have you circled the parking lot to find the perfect spot? Spare yourself the stress and gain more energy by parking far away or even in a remote lot and walking farther to your destination.
Skip the shuttle. Travelling across campus? Plan ahead and skip the shuttle.
Take the stairs. The elevator may go up—but it doesn’t make your heart rate climb. Take the stairs instead. Make it a personal challenge to see how many flights you can do in a day.
Schedule a walking meeting. View Vanderbilt’s campus walking trails to plan your route.
Learn more about walking and heart health from the American Heart Association.
Remember to log your activity with Start. Click here to log in to the Health Plus Health Guide. Visit the Start! physical activity page for more information about how to log activity and sync devices.
Health Plus is part of Faculty and Staff Health and Wellness.