Mr. F and I are so regular with our afternoon walks to the Nautical Bean, that some of our more distant neighbors stop us and ask about our real names, as they’re tired of referring to us as “the Walkers.” Just today, a woman startled us by pulling over on busy Los Osos Valley Drive, rolling down the window of her luxury sedan, and telling us how much she enjoyed always seeing us walk together holding hands.
We Enjoy Having a Beautiful Place for Walking
Walking has been a lifetime habit for us, beginning with our student days at UCLA. When Mr. F was a little boy with a paper route, he was very much influenced by a man on his route who was over 100 years old. Every day without fail, this man would walk a mile for a morning cup of coffee. He told Mr. F that his friends who stopped walking were soon in wheelchairs, then dead.
Walking for us has been a time to share our thoughts without distraction, get some fresh air, and of course, a little exercise. Now, apparently, it looks like we might be able to add “preventing dementia” to our list of positives from walking. Nicola Lautenschlager and her colleagues (2008) found that adding modest exercise (three 50-minute walks per week) for a period of six months produced modest improvements in the cognitive functioning of individuals who were already showing signs of memory loss without meeting the criteria for dementia. What if these people had been walking all along?
A lot of people equate exercise with boring activities in a gym. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Nor does it have to mean buying a lot of expensive equipment. All you need is a pair of shoes and 50 minutes, which many people waste aimlessly channel surfing anyway.
17 Comments
Amber Thompson · November 29, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I personally, am really into running. I used to run 3 times a week, until I dislocated my hip this last year and was barely walking for most of the summer. But I have gotten much better, and have gotten back into running this quarter. I have really noticed a change in my overall mood, feeling much more refreshed and happy after a nice long run.
nikkinate · November 29, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I have to agree with Amber! I run 4 to 5 times a week in Poly Canyon and absolutely love it! It is such a great way to relax and release stress. It is also where I often feel truly alone and able to think and just get away. That’s great that you and your husband walk together so often!
ajacopet · November 30, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Who would have thought that exercise would help improve cognitive functioning? I wonder, does this mean that people who don’t exercise aren’t as cognitively functional, as those who do get a moderate amount of exercise in a weeks time? Or is it that a person doesn’t exercise because they aren’t as cognitively functional? Hmmmm—this may be an interesting correlation study.
andrewgrodriguez · December 1, 2008 at 11:57 am
I have always put an emphasis on exercise in my life. I find it interesting that walking might be able to help prevent dementia. I have always noticed a huge increase in my mood after working out as well as alertness. I am not surprise at all by Lautenschlager’s findings. Its well documented on the correlation between stress relief and exercise. This gives even more motivation to stay active due to the cognitive benefits! I know with finals coming up that I will be in the gym playing some basketball and working out. Perhaps I will increase my Biopsychology final score by working out! Great article and very interesting!
megrust · December 1, 2008 at 11:13 pm
My roommates and I moved downtown this year and I’ve loved the amount of walking it’s motivated us to do. If we want to go to dinner, shopping, for coffee, to the art gallery, anything-it’s all within a mile so it’s an easy way to get out of the house and gives us activity on top of the workouts we do or don’t get in for the week. It’s even nice to just walk to school some mornings when I’m not in a rush. I’ve always heard that moving around outside can improve your mood but now knowing it can improve overall cognitive functioning is even more motivation to get out.
kfriedma · December 2, 2008 at 1:06 am
I have recently been motivated to start running daily (or at least try to go daily) and I have absolutely noticed the difference in my mood and energy levels that are higher throughout the entire day. And to know that I am doing myself a “mental service” as well is even more motivation to continue my new interest. Its great to know something you find joy and relaxation in is such a healthy decision too!
Karl_Petrosky · December 2, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I think just about everyone agrees that exercise (of whatever kind) will help keep you healthy, both mentally and physically … but what caught my eye in your post was the phrase “a time to share our thoughts without distraction.”
From my personal experience, I absolutely believe that a comfortable walk is the best setting for conversation. To my observation, walking allows people to not only complete more complex ideas than when just sitting around (the kind you can’t always quite spit out in everyday talking), and to flow from one idea to the next more easily.
What I wonder is if there’s any empirical way to prove it, or link it to anything specific: does the increased state of arousal from getting mild exercise keep the mind more alert and focused? Is the change of setting around you as you walk triggering more unconscious associations, and therefore greater idea flow? My personal answer to both questions is “probably,” but I don’t think its the kind of thing anyone’s ever actually studied.
BrendanGaines · December 3, 2008 at 11:31 am
Thats really Interesting. I actually have walked to and from school my whole life and I have always had a very good memory. That must have something to do with it. Thats also very good to know becuase I am going to continue to walk daily for as long as I can.
Jennifer Jones · December 3, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Having run cross country in high school and continuing to remain active to this day I notice feeling more alert and aware after working out. During runs is when I actually feel the best; I tend to think about things I learned throughout the day and actually remember it! I know for a fact that my mood is improved after working out and it makes sense that people who do exercise would have greater cognitive functioning.
…On an interesting note, when I was in high school both the guys and girls cross country teams had the highest GPA of all sports teams…I wonder if all that running improved our memory and cognitive functioning 🙂
lyssa115 · December 4, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Yet another example of how beneficial exercise can be. My grandparents do the same thing everyday to get exercise and walk their scottie dogs. My mother does the same to nurture herself, but my father doesn’t join because he is busy. I’ll have to encourage him to begin because since I have been away at school I have noticed how poor his memory has become.
I think the great thing about walking either by yourself or with someone else is that there is really nothing else you can do besides walk and think/talk. I wonder if listening to music makes any difference?
estoddard · December 4, 2008 at 2:58 pm
My favorite part of the day is walking to class because I agree that it’s a time to reflect on thoughts and just relax. However, I wish I made a daily routine of going on a walk without a particular destination because I feel so much more relaxed when I’m on a walk.
You know, my mom is very dedicated to walking every morning with my dog. Even if she is across the world on a business trip, she will find somewhere to walk or will go to the gym and walk on one of the treadmills. I’ve always admired her determination because I find myself being too busy or tired in the morning to walk.
cgieseke · December 4, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I used to walk my beagle all the time back when I was in high school. But then I went to college, and my dog died both of which play a factor in me walking less. But after reading this I better get back into walking for my own health. I miss taking relaxing walks. Maybe it’s about time to get me a new dog?
jlynn1105 · December 4, 2008 at 10:42 pm
My mom either goes on a walk or works out at the gym almost everyday. I am so thankful that I have grown up seeing her behavior as normal. Not only has she shown me a healthy lifestyle, but also how to relax, how to be alone, and how to love nature.
We now go on walks together and as you mentioned, we have some of our best conversations during this time. I believe this is partially due to the fact that there is not pressure to talk. As much as we talk, we are also silent. Furthermore, sometimes is can be easier to express my feelings when I do not have to look directly into her eyes.
joshpollitz · December 5, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It’s honestly very nice to hear that, especially because of the hectic life that most college kids have to live, it doesn’t leave much time for me to get to the gym with 30 hours of work on top of 20 hours of class and study a week. But I do take the time to get for walks and hikes whenever I have time, which is nice to know it is exercise and doing something to help me in the future.
jessberry · December 5, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Reading this made me smile. First, I love seeing happy couples out doing things together (i hope to have that one day :)) and second I love Nautical Bean! And I totally agree exercise is very important, especially being a stressed out college student. During finals it’s easy to hibernate in your books and neglect your body. I am very lucky because I grew up being very athletic so exercise is natural and something I enjoy. However, finding time can be a challenge. My motivator now a days is my dog Brutus. He is over 100 lbs so he is very stubborn about getting his walks/runs. If you have a friend (I workout with my roomate too) or get a dog you are more likely to work out because your excuses won’t work on them.
msirna · February 3, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I love walking and running, it always seems help when I am very stressed or just need a break. I think its great that you and your husband walk together, I think that walking with someone really helps promote good conversation and a general comfortable level with that person, because your both in a relaxed environment.
jforsberg · February 20, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Walking is such an important component to maintaining and improving mental health. Studies have shown that mild to moderate exercise for even thirty minutes a day can have similar effects as many anti-depressants on people suffering from depression. I know that I’m so thankful for the fact that I live somewhat close to campus and am forced to walk to school every day. My morning walks put me in such high spirits by the time that I arrive at our 9AM Biopsychology class!
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