What is National Walking Month?

#WalkThisMay

In less than three weeks’ time, National Walking Month will begin.

This year, Living Streets is encouraging everyone to #Try20 minutes of walking each day in May. Walking is an easy and accessible way to improve both mental and physical health, and a 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of a number of preventable health conditions such as depression, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. It is a form of exercise that has often been overlooked in its benefits.

Check the NHS guidance for more details on how walking can benefit your health.

Who organised it?

Living Streets is a UK charity organisation that is promoting National Walking Month in May. They aim to revitalise and motivate everyone to walk their journeys instead of driving.

Other than hosting National Walking Month, they also promote and encourage Walk To School Week 2022 between the 16^th May to the 20^th May, encouraging children to walk to school.

Where is it?

National Walking Month lasts for the entire month of May.

You do not have to be in a certain place to participate, simply do it in the area that you live in! After completing a 20-minute walk, you can post it on your social media to engage with the Living Streets and other people who have joined, learning about their journeys.

When posting on social media, be sure to use the hashtags such as #WalkThisMay and #Try20!

How can you participate in National Walking Month?

Living Streets has produced a #Try20 checklist that shows you different activities you could do on your 20-minute walk-a-day challenge. Download and print it out so you could tick it as you go.

Why should you get involved?

The #Try20 minute walk a day challenge is great for its health benefits alone. However, by swapping a short drive for a walk, you are also helping to reduce air pollution, congestion, and road danger, whilst saving money and getting active in the process!

Other than encouraging more people to get active, this challenge is a great way for everyone to rebuild their daily habits.

Here at Smarter Travel Limited, we will be joining in with National Walking Month – follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see how we get on with #Try20.