What’s One Mile Near Me?

Getting out and walking can be just as simple as running your errands. And most errands can be done within a mile of your home. Why not walk?

What’s 1 Mile Look Like?

Walking should be an every day activity that easily fits into your busy life. One way to do this is by looking at what’s nearby with 1 mile. Most of our daily life revolves around a small circumference around our home. Within that circumference, there’s lots of walking to be had. Taking advantage of what’s at hand can help you integrate more walking and more movement into your life.

Thus, I throw up the 1-mile radius walking challenge, below.

What’s my favorite walking outfit? A fabulous skort. See the skort I use to walk in every time I go walking. 

Your Body Walks

The hip bone’s connected to the leg bone…and amazingly, our bodies walk. Sadly, though, many of us have lost touch with this natural movement, and we are quick to jump into cars or other transport to get to the simplest of places that are the closest to our homes.

I ascertain that instead of participating in the habit of driving, let’s start with the habit of walking and, over time, move walking from a habit to a behavior to a life style. But let’s not get a head of ourselves.

Let’s first concentrate on making the act of walking a habit. I always get my shoes from REI because I can return them, for any reason, within a year of buying shoes at REI. Get your pair here.

What’s One Mile? Got 20 Minutes to Walk a Mile?

Most of the things we need nearby are within a mile.  You can probably get your near-by errands done faster by foot than by car. By the time you get in the car, get out of your parking spot, merge into traffic, wait for lights, arrive at your destination, park, and walk to the entry, 20 minutes have passed.

With walking you not only can do your errand in the same amount of time, your body will love you for it as well.

How to Find a Mile Radius on Google Maps

I challenge you to map your mile.  I go to Google Maps and have Google show me a mile from my house. Just 1 mile. You can do this too. Go to Google maps and find your location. Mark it with the geo marker by right clicking, then measure the distance out from your home one mile in all directions with the distance tool. Draw a circle. Then, take a look within that circle. It’s always fun to find things 1 mile from me. What do you find?

If you don’t know how to use Google or you’d rather use a printed map, the process is the same. Unfold the map, find your home, measure out .5 mile from your home, draw a circle, and you’ll have a diameter of 1 mile to hunt for places to enjoy your life on foot.

A 1-Mile Distance Example

What’s within a mile of your home? Perhaps you find a grocery, a post office, a drug store, a friend’s house, a community center, a park, a school, an office, a doctor. The list could be endless. Of those items on the list, what could you walk to, tomorrow? And the next day? And the next?

When I walk a mile from my home, I can go to a Target, the post office, 3 restaurants, a gym, and even a walking trail.

Just Walk It

Once you’ve identified your motivators to walk, what are your obstacles? Most folks can use the shoes that are on their feet, the jacket that’s on the hook, and the sunglasses that are on the table. I love to get all my gear at REI because their return policy is so liberal. If I don’t like it, it rubs, or it doesn’t operate like I want, I return it.

Walking is such a natural movement, our bodies don’t really need any extra tools to make a walking journey. Once you’ve decided you can do the walk, or even if you’re not sure, just get out and walk.

While Walking, Enjoy the Time

While you’re doing your mile walk, what did you see? What did you think about? How did you feel? How could it be better? Could you ask a friend to join next time? Could you do a 2-mile radius or a 3-mile radius? Could you make the commitment that once a week, twice a week, or every day, you’ll walk this errand rather than drive it?

Maybe the next time you walk 1 mile nearby, you stop and literally smell the roses, pet the dog, talk to the neighbor, tip your toes in the lake. Enjoy your neighborhood from all your senses.

Giving Thanks

I must give thanks to a friend (Rob Issem) of a friend (Jonathon Stalls) who turned me on to this idea. He mapped out his walk, discovered his son’s school was within range, and he and his son walked it for the first time. Now, they walk it every day. He’s more engaged with his son, they are getting to know their neighborhood, and their connection has improved.

What would you give thanks to if you walked your 1-mile radius? Would you comment below about what you discovered?