It’s nearing the end of National Walking Month. This is an excellent campaign to get out to all the lovely locations around us, to be fitter, healthier and improve our wellbeing!

Charley Roberts, Health Improvement Practitioner (Wellbeing at Work/Wellbeing Champions) has been challenging herself recently to celebrate national walking month and the start of the sunshine by doing a 5k each day! As it’s the end of the month, here is what she has to say about it and the outcome…

I love May! May for me is the start of spring, the start of lighter evenings and summer feelings. The fresh smell of cut grass and the gorgeous perfumes of the newly opened flower buds, which is why I thought, let’s do a personal walking challenge.

The challenge I chose was to complete 5k every day. Now I know that sounds like a lot for some people, but I gave myself some breathing room by not doing the 5k in one go. It was a mix of morning walks, lunch time walks, evening walks, even just the normal steps I do around the house on a day-to-day basis, BUT I needed to complete it. Before I did this challenge, I completed roughly 4k per day, so I added another 1k to my average day. This was a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Timely) goal in my eyes.

At the start of May it was a little difficult, the weather was still horrible with lots of rain, the days felt longer because of the lighter evenings, but it is crazy how much you mentally change after giving yourself a challenge and knowing there is a reward at the end of this. My reward was a few new pieces of clothing for my honeymoon in June …. Good prize, right? I know!!!

Got to the middle of May and saw so many cool areas of Plymouth by walking to them. One of my favourite walks was with my husband’s grandparents and our niece. From Stonehouse, through the City Centre, onto the Hoe, down onto the Barbican – stopped for a Pasty (obviously) and then worked our way back. The weather was glorious but the main reason why this was my favourite is because my husband’s granddad hadn’t been outside since March 2020. We have been caring for his grandparents since the start of Covid. It was so nice to see the back of it, especially for my husband’s granddad. He also, might I add, since this trip now goes out every Wednesday and Saturday with his wife – it’s AMAZING!

Coming to the end of May, I have noticed a huge difference in so many different areas of my personal life. I sleep for longer than five hours a night – for those that know me, this is a miracle because I always feel energized. I have noticed that my concentration is better during working hours. However, I am also being conscious and not staying on and working over my hours. This is because I am itching to get out and CONNECT with my brain again.

Walking has so many benefits but the biggest benefit for me is that it has got me to slow down, have some mental space and enjoy quiet time!! – no one ever thought that would happen 😊

Thanks for sharing with us Charley. It is inspiring to hear that walking has given you so many benefits, both on a personal and professional level – plus the views look amazing! If you have anything to share with us, be it a personal challenge or a wellbeing team challenge, we’d love to hear from you – email us at [email protected].