15 Life-Changing Reasons to Walk—Because I Keep Forgetting Why I Should!
Last Updated on 07/19/2025 by Nicky
15 Reasons to Walk—Because I Keep Forgetting Why I Should!
It’s so frustrating and so ridiculous, but it’s true. Here I am, the one who had at one point lost 50 pounds through walking and I still struggle to do it consistently or even remember why I should do it in the first place.
The ADHD tax strikes again. Here’s the cycle that I fall into, and tell me if you can relate:
I gain weight.
I obsess over finding a solution.
I decide I should walk because that worked so well in the past (even though sometimes walking is boring to me).
I start walking for a few months.
I lose weight.
I get distracted by an infomercial or a YouTube workout video because it looks more “exciting”.
I injure myself doing the “exciting” workout.
I stop working out altogether.
I gain weight.
Repeat cycle. So, to help me remember why I walk for weight loss so I don’t keep getting shiny object syndrome, I’ve compiled a list of all the reasons why walking is so FIRE and why I should never stop doing it.
I hope this list will help you too if you suffer from squirrel brain as well. Oh, and to keep it nice and organized, I’ve divided the list by how walking benefits you physically, mentally/emotionally, spiritually, and one bonus one financially.
This post contains affiliate links to great products that will help you in your health journey. I will get a commission if you decide to buy from these links but I’m only recommending products that I feel confident about and from companies that I trust like Amazon and others. Please let me know if you have any questions.
*🚶🏾♀️ How Walking Does Wonderful Things For Your Body*
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Okay, so let’s start with the obvious—but still super important—reasons walking is amazing for your body.
These are the things I know in my head, but tend to forget when I see a cool new GrowithJo video or a new 30-day challenge that promises fast results but ends with me spraying magnesium oil on my knee.
1. Walking is amazing for weight loss, period.
Even though I’ve written blog posts such as Is Walking Effective For Weight Loss (yes!) and Jaw-Dropping Weight Loss Results From Walking, I still get off track from my walking schedule to chase some new bright and shiny workout.
Walking might not look exciting, but by golly, it works & it’s kind to your body. When I was walking regularly, I lost 50 pounds—without doing agonizing burpees, jumping jacks, or dodgy juice fasts.
Walking burns calories, helps manage blood sugar, and doesn’t leave you hobbling for three days after. And I love that I can easily track my walking workouts in my digital Trello fitness journal either by how many minutes I walked or by how many steps I took.
Or I can just take a picture of my treadmill stats and upload it into the journal. Having a digital fitness journal makes it super easy to track your workouts, which is always what I need.
You can take a look at the digital fitness journal below!
2. It strengthens your heart and lungs
Let’s be real: walking isn’t just about the scale. The more I walk, the more I notice my heart rate improves, I can breathe better going up stairs, and I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out just walking to the mailbox.
In fact, when I started working out on the treadmill, I could tell after 3 sessions that my lungs were stronger. It was amazing. Just goes to show that cardio doesn’t have to be brutal to be beneficial.
3. It tones your legs, glutes, and even your core
Walking is a great way to tone your legs, butt, and core. I notice that my stomach gets flatter the more consistently I walk, especially if I’m doing my Walk At Home workouts, because there are so many leg kicks which really focuses on your core.
And if you walk up a hill or on an incline on a treadmill, then your legs and your booty will get firmer and tighter. Just remember to swing your arms while you walk for an extra added benefit!
4. It’s joint-friendly
I can’t even tell you how often I have injured myself doing a HIIT workout or some workout where you have to jump a lot.
Now while I’m doing it, it’s tons of fun buuuut after…naw bro, I might near need a cane to walk. It’s just not worth it. Walking doesn’t (or shouldn’t) hurt your knees or your ankles, and there is no jumping involved.
5. It keeps your metabolism moving, even on “lazy” days
Some days, I don’t want to work out at all—but even a 10-minute walk helps me feel like I did something.
And that “something” is enough to keep my metabolism from going completely into lazy mode. Even if I’m walking around my apartment with a podcast on, it still counts.
The body doesn’t need perfection—it just needs movement.
6. Walking makes me forget I have PMS
Dude, I almost forgot this. Walking is a major component of my PMS/period protocol. When I don’t walk regularly, I notice my PMS is off the charts.
I have this gnawing hunger that I only get when I’m PMSing. I’m more moody and easily irritated. It’s nuts what PMS does to our bodies, isn’t it, ladies?
7. It helps regulate your blood sugar (and calms the cravings)
One of the underrated benefits of walking—especially after meals—is how much it helps manage your blood sugar. I notice that when I take a quick 10–15 minute walk after eating (especially dinner), my blood sugar doesn’t spike as much after a heavy meal.
I know that because I check my blood sugar from time to time. And for those of us with a family history of diabetes (raises hand), this is such a powerful, proactive thing we can do to support our health.
Even science backs it up—walking after meals helps lower blood sugar and keeps insulin levels in check. And honestly, it just feels good to walk off that meal instead of rolling straight into bed.
* How Walking Helps Your Mental & Emotional Health*
Okay, now let’s talk about how walking helps not just your body but your brain. Because if you’re anything like me, the mental benefits are just as important as the physical ones, especially when ADHD, anxiety, or life is bugging.
8. It calms your racing mind
Whenever I’m overwhelmed, overstimulated, or frazzled, a walk helps me focus on something else if only for a little while.
There’s something about turning on your favorite playlist and walking, whether it be outside or inside, to one of the many walking videos on YouTube.
It clears my brain fog and mental clutter. If your brain is feeling overloaded, try taking a walk even if it’s just for 10 minutes or so.
The walk pumps more blood to your brain and makes you more alert and brings you mental clarity that you so desperately need (source).
9. Walking boosts your mood
Let’s get a little sciency for a moment. Walking releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and serotonin—aka your brain’s natural mood boosters. And best of all, walking helps release dopamine, which is a major issue for those of us with ADHD. (source)
I always notice that I feel just a little more hopeful, a little more grounded, and a little less catastrophic thinking after a good walk.
10. It helps you manage ADHD symptoms (for real, for real)
I didn’t realize how much walking helps until I skipped it for a week and suddenly couldn’t focus on anything for more than 30 seconds.
Any time I start feeling off (like more moody, more crampy, more irritable, and hungrier), I start going over my mental checklist to see what I’ve forgotten to cross off lately.
Inevitably, walking is one of the items that I had forgotten to do. Walking helps regulate my emotions. It also gives me that little dopamine boost that my ADHD brain craves without having to open 47 browser tabs or scroll Pinterest for an hour.
11. It gives you space to process thoughts
Walking is like my mobile therapy. Some of my best ideas happen while I’m walking (especially without headphones). It’s the rhythm and quiet that help me slow down and actually listen to my own thoughts.
That’s why I always have a phone nearby when I walk because I always get ideas or thoughts that I want to capture, and I don’t write them down right then, the idea is gone. Now, if only walking helped with your memory??
12. It’s a natural stress reliever
Have you ever just felt tense for no reason? Like you’re clenching your jaw and your shoulders are up by your ears, and you didn’t even notice?
Walking has a way of helping your body release that tension. It’s not magic, but it’s pretty close. Plus, walking outside in the sunshine? Whew. Instant mood upgrade.
* How Walking Helps Me Spiritually (aka Jesus Walks… and So Do I 🙌🏾)*
I don’t always see walking as a spiritual activity, but sometimes I do. In fact, sometimes it just turns into a spiritual activity when I least expect it, which is always a welcome surprise.
Walking as a spiritual activity was not on my bingo card originally, but I’ve learned that it is one of the times when I really feel reflective and open to hearing God’s voice.
13. It becomes a form of prayer and worship
I really like praying when I walk. Maybe it’s the blood going to the brain thing, but I think my prayers are more focused when I’m walking.
Usually, my prayers veer off course sometime after Dear Lord, but walking helps me concentrate better, which this ADHD girlie needs real bad.
14. It creates space to hear from God
Like I said earlier, I seem to be able to hear God’s voice more when I’m walking, or at least I get more bright ideas of a spiritual nature when I’m walking I think the Holy Spirit has to be there beside me, blessing me with ideas and inspiration.
Walking is brilliant for clearing out the cobwebs that clog your mind and prevent you from thinking clearly. I’ve had many Aha moments while walking (and also while in the shower, but I digress).
15. It’s a Sabbath-style reset
When I’m feeling burnt out or spiritually dry, a walk feels like an act of Sabbath. I’m not working, not striving, not producing—just being. And sometimes that’s the most holy thing you can do. Rest is sacred, and a slow walk is a great form of active rest.
16. Walking reminds me I’m not doing life alone
When I walk, I remember that God is with me. God is always with me, but I often forget that, and doing a prayer walk is a great reminder of His presence.
17. It helps me feel more grateful for my body and nature
When two of my friends were sick and couldn’t walk (they have since gone on to meet the Lord), I often thought of them when I wasn’t motivated.
I thought about how they would love to be able to move their bodies freely, but they couldn’t because their bodies were hampered by disease.
And yet here I was with a perfectly healthy body, and I wasn’t willing to get up for 10 minutes and move? Those thoughts would get me up quickly. I always want to be grateful for the body I have and remember that it is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
18. I can pray for people I pass or walk past homes, and pray blessings
This is one of my favorite walking habits: praying as I go. If I’m walking in a neighborhood or near people, I silently say little prayers like, “Lord bless the person in that house,” or “Give her strength, God.”
It’s simple, but powerful. Walking becomes a little ministry, a chance to sprinkle blessings wherever my feet take me.
19. Walking reminds me that I’m still moving forward, even in small ways
I often get down on myself because I’m not exactly where I want to be in life. But even just taking one walk helps remind me that I am moving forward.
No matter how small, I am making progress, and if I keep going, in a year from now, I could have a whole new body.
* Bonus: How Walking Helps Me Financially*
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20. Walking helps you make more money
No, I’m not talking about some app that pays you for every mile you walk (although that is a thing I think). So what do I mean by walking helps you make more money?
Well, walking helps boost your immune system (source). If you’re not sick as often, then you can get more done such as work on your business or side hustle.
Or at the very least, not miss work as often. I wrote about in this post about cold remedies that work, that I used to get sick often and it would derail my work for weeks.
But if you walk more, you get sick less, and you can be more productive. Therefore, walking makes you earn more money. See how that all works together?
* What Is Your Favorite Walking Benefit? *
Alright, my lovelies. That’s my list of why walking is so bomb for your health. Will I actually remember everything that I wrote here?
No, probably definitely not.
But if I only remember one of the items on this list, hopefully it will motivate me to get out of bed and start moving.
I hope this list will do the same for you. If you can only do 5 minutes, then get up and walk your heart out for 5 minutes and be proud of the steps you’ve taken (yes, pun was intended).
What I love about walking is that it’s simple and free. No Orange Theory membership required. All you need to see results is your commitment—even if it’s 10 minutes at a time.
So next time your ADHD brain tries to convince you walking is boring, or “not effective,” pull this list back out. Save it. Print it. Pin it. Speak it out loud if you need to. Because walking isn’t just about your legs—it’s about your life.
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