National Walk to Work Day
About National Walk to Work Day
When is National Walk to Work Day? This holiday is observed on the first Friday in April
Today is National Walk to Work Day. On this day, Americans are encouraged to walk to work. If you can’t walk to work, take a walk during lunchtime, or another time of the day. The goal is to walk 30 minutes a day. Health officials are hoping this will encourage people to add a 30-minute walk to their daily lives.
Health officials, medical agencies, and medical organizations around the country state that a 30-minute walk will significantly improve your health. The benefits are many, including lower weight, less chance of heart disease, less risk of diabetes, and much more. This translates to a longer and healthier life.
Unmentioned in other articles are the emotional and mental benefits of walking. Walking is relaxing and peaceful. If you walk in a park, or along a waterfront, it can be captivating. Need a quick picker-upper? Take a walk today.
Note: Walking is free of charge. And, as of this writing, there is no tax on walking, either.
So, if you can’t walk to work today, walk 30 minutes at a convenient time. Then, make it a part of your daily life.
Why Walk to Work and Other Places
There are many reasons to walk to and from places you need to go. Here are a few of them:
- Every step you take makes and keeps you a little bit healthier. And, the health benefit increases as you walk more.
- Walking is better for the environment. Cars, buses, and trains all use fossil fuels, which are harmful to the environment.
- You save money by not filling up the gas tank or paying for bus fare.
- While you walk at a slower pace, you see more. Instead of watching the landscape go by in a blur, you can enjoy the scenery and watch birds and butterflies as they flitter from tree to tree and flower to flower.
Benefits of Participating in National Walk to Work Day
There are many benefits to walking to work, or anywhere else for that matter. The benefits include:
- It helps you to lose weight.
- You will be healthier.
- You will live longer.
- It is mentally relaxing.
- Also, it saves wear and tear on your bike or car.
- Walking is eco-friendly.
How to Celebrate National Walk to Work Day
Obviously, this holiday is all about encouraging us to be healthier by walking to and from our place of employment. But, don’t stop with just one day of walking. Rather, make it a habit to walk to and from work every day. Then, go a little further still and walk to other places, too. Meanwhile, here are some other things to do today to make this holiday even more beneficial to you and others:
- Specifically, walk to work. As walking to work becomes a routine for a healthier you, challenge yourself to walk further and to more places.
- Encourage others to walk to work, too.
- If any of your co-workers live along the way to your place of employment, invite them to walk along with you. It’s always more enjoyable when you’re with a friend.
- If you are a company manager, offer an incentive to encourage employees to walk to work today. Perhaps offer free coffee and donuts to all walkers.
Today's Chuckle
Heard at the Office: A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, a work station is where work stops.
History and Origin of National Walk to Work Day
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson declared the first National Walk to Work Day on April 2, 2004. It is an annual event. With obesity and sedentary lifestyles growing at an alarming rate, National Walk to Work Day was initiated to draw attention to the need to get out and exercise and get in shape.
Related Holidays
People who like National Walk to Work Day will also like:
More About Today
Recipe of the Day: Fiesta Tomato Dumplings
Plant of the Day: Raspberries
Holiday Insights, where every day in April is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? In addition to National Walk to Work Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Certainly, there is no shortage of daily holidays in April. Many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.