Celebrate National Walk to Work Day the First Friday in April
Get some exercise, improve your health and reduce your carbon footprint for the day all at once: It’s Walk to Work Day.
It happens on the 1st Friday in April, just as the weather is (hopefully!) getting nicer.
The goal of the day is to get people moving and raise awareness of the benefits of exercise.
And regular exercise, including walking, has lots of health benefits. It lowers your risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. It can also help you lose weight (but only if you follow a sensible diet!).
It can also be good for your mental health. Remember, exercise affects the whole body, and your mind is part of that. It can lower anxiety and stress levels, among other things.
Plus, when the exercise is walking, you can enjoy the scenery and let your mind wander. This can leave you feeling more relaxed and at peace. And we can all use a little more peace in our lives!
When Did National Walk to Work Day Start?
The very first National Walk to Work Day was April 2, 2004. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson made it official, declaring it to be celebrated on the first Friday of April every year.
Even though it’s been declared a national holiday, it’s still an “unofficial” national holiday. You don’t get the day off … Which would defeat the purpose after all!
The day has been promoted by Prevention Magazine. The American Podiatric Medical Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services both endorse the day, too.
This is a U.S. holiday. Australia has its own Walk to Work Day, held in October or November every year.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this active unofficial holiday.
How to Celebrate National Walk to Work Day
Many of these holidays are pretty self-explanatory, and this one’s no different. On Walk to Work Day, you should walk to work if possible.
Of course, most of us don’t live within actual walking distance of work. But you can still get in a walk!
Walk before and/or after work
You might be able to walk to your public transportation stop. Or get off your bus or train before or after your normal stop.
The recommendation is to walk 15 minutes for your morning commute and again for your evening commute. So whatever method works for you!
And if you don’t take public transportation and it’s not an option even for one day? Find another time to walk. Either two 15-minute walks or one 30-minute walk.
Walk for lunch
Your lunch break might be one option. If you only get 45 minutes, then a brisk 15-minute walk might be all you can do and still have time to eat. But if your workplace is more flexible, a moderate pace for 30 minutes could be nice. It’ll stimulate your appetite, too!
Maybe you could get a few coworkers together to make it more fun. You could even walk to and from a nearby restaurant for lunch.
Walk in the evening
Can’t fit a walk into the workday? Take one before or after dinner. Try to get family members or friends to join you.
But don’t stop at one day.
Keep up the walking
Remember, regular walking is good for you in many ways.
So vow to add a walk to your daily routine, or at least add it to your exercise rotation. Exercise doesn’t always have to be high-impact.
There’s even lots of good books about walking for health and weight loss. Consider these:
- The Complete Guide to Walking, New and Revised: For Health, Weight Loss and Fitness
- Walking and Jogging for Health and Wellness
- 10,000 Steps a Day to Your Optimal Weight: Walk Your Way to Better Health
- Tai Chi Walking: A Low-Impact Path to Better Health
If you’re new to walking for exercise, one of these books or others can help you do it right. Make sure you wear the right shoes and clothes. And use the right posture. These things will help you walk more comfortably. And that’ll help you stick with it!
You might also be interested in the DVD Start! Walking At Home With Leslie Sansone: Beginner/Intermediate – 1 & 2 Mile Walk.
Dates for Future National Walk to Work Days
We walk to work on the first Friday in April every year. But of course the actual date of the first Friday changes every year. Here’s a list of the Walk to Work Day dates for the next few years:
- 2019 – Friday, April 5
- 2020 – Friday, April 3
- 2021 – Friday, April 2
- 2022 – Friday, April 1
- 2023 – Friday, April 7
- 2024 – Friday, April 5
- 2025 – Friday, April 4
- 2026 – Friday, April 3
- 2027 – Friday, April 2
- 2028 – Friday, April 7
Now get walking!
[…] National Walk to Work Day: If you’re actually going to work, and walking is an option for you, get the blood flowing by walking. If you’re working from home or furloughed, try to take a walk around the neighborhood or even your home. As mentioned for National Walking Day, getting in some exercise is a good thing, virus or no virus. Just do it safely. […]