Walking and Exercise

• When do you want to exercise? Consider whether you're a morning person or a night owl. Some people do well with walking early in the day before work or family responsibilities begin. Others find that later afternoons or evenings after work or school are a better fit. Find the time that best works with your schedule and your body clock, and block out this time on your schedule. Also think about how much time you want to spend exercising. Do you want to walk every day, or would you prefer to spend more time 3-4 days per week?
• Where do you want to exercise? Since you've come to a website about walking, let's assume your form of exercise will be walking at least the majority of the time. Do you want to walk inside or outside? If you walk inside, your main options are a treadmill, either in your house or at a gym, or walking at a mall. If the mall is your choice, consider how that fits with the time you've decided on. Many malls open early for walkers, but if you plan to walk at 6am, that might be tough to do in a mall. Walking outside gives you the most freedom: you can walk whenver you want, just about anywhere you want. Two things to think about if you're planning to walk outside, though: safety and the weather.
• Do you want to exercise alone, or with a group or partner? There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Walking with a friend or group means that someone will be expecting you, and that might help you stay motivated even on those days when you're struggling to get out of bed. Walking alone, though, can work well for soneone who wants to set his or her own schedule, and who prefers quiet.