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Step 1
Pick your place. Find a good place for walking or jogging. This could be a park, your neighborhood or even the local school track. Find someplace close by so you can have time to do a full exercise routine without spending too much time getting there.
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Step 2
Update your shoes. Walking on a treadmill and walking on pavement are two different things. A treadmill is designed to give you some cushion while you jog or walk. However, a paved sidewalk is not as forgiving. So make sure your shoes are up to the task and are designed for walking outside.
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Step 3
Safety in numbers. When exercising at home you are in a safe and secure place. However, when exercising outside you want to think of your safety. This may or may not be an issue for you but it’s better to be safe than sorry. So go as a group. Even just one friend adds a bit of safety to your walk or jog.
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Step 4
Adjust your schedule. You may need to adjust the time of day you do your exercise. If you generally exercised late at night, change it to earlier in the evening so you can take in some of the spring weather and exercise with the sunlight. Try using your lunch hour as well to take a walk with a coworker. Not only does this help relieve work stress but you will be getting in some exercise.
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Step 5
Don’t skip steps. Just because you are moving your workout from inside to outside, don’t skip your warm up and stretching. Warming up and stretching helps prepare your body and minimize risk of injury. Similarly, don’t forget the cool down and one more stretch. Cooling down helps redistribute the blood and prevents muscle soreness and stretching helps tone and lengthen your muscles after your workout.
