Sign up for Well’s 5-week walking series
I am an avid hiker. I walk to straight my back when I’ve been hunched over a computer for too long. When I get good news, I take a few laps around my neighborhood to enjoy it. I walk with my teen to ask her to open up to me. And it probably comes as no surprise that many of us at Well hold meetings on foot. That’s why we’re dedicating the whole month of June to discovering the joy of hiking – and I hope you’ll join us.
A walk in the sun combines the best elements of the season: nature, fresh air, movement and freedom. It has little impact. It is handy. It can be in the city or in the countryside. And for an activity this casual, the physical and mental benefits are huge – sleep better, reduce joint pain And reduce anxiety.
Research shows that you don’t have to embark on an epic trek to reap the rewards. a Study from 2023 of adults age 70 and older found in the journal Circulation that walking an extra 500 steps a day was associated with a 14 percent lower risk of heart disease, stroke and heart failure.
But if you need a little more motivation, the Well newsletter in June will feature walking inspiration.
What you get
You can participate in the program regardless of your fitness level. Every week we send you creative ideas to get out the door. Each newsletter has a specific theme with an activity to try and advice from experts, some of whom work here at The Times.
One walk is designed to inspire awe as you wander, while another includes clues to strengthen your bond when walking with someone else. There will also be a fitness walk to optimize your movement, and a micro-adventure themed walk. (In the fifth week, a well-known and highly entertaining hiking fanatic will join me to wrap things up.)
How to start
First, make sure you’re signed up for the Well newsletter. If you already are, you won’t see anything new on this page. If you have not received our newsletter before, you can register via the module below — you will receive our walking program from June 2.
Then head over to Wirecutter, The Times’ product review site, where our colleagues have put together a list of their favorite hiking gear for you.