Walking

The only 2 forms of exercise I actively enjoy are swimming and walking. I find it difficult to advise, but would just like to share in the hope that it may help. I was brought up to take an interest in the natural world and like M0nica, always find something to notice and delight in when I am out walking.
I prefer not to walk in a group, but there are a number of walking groups in my area - from short 'health walks' to longer rambles. I know some folk prefer walking in a group, and the discipline of turning out at a certain time.
I now have to use 'Norwegian poles' to go more than a mile or so, and wonder if that might suit you.
I'd suggest looking around for some exercise that does suit you if walking doesn't.

DH finds walking boring - he just sees it as pointless unless we are walking to or from somewhere.
He is active but trying to persuade him to go for walks is more trouble than it's worth.

If we needed to go blackberrying or picking sloes etc he would see a point to that, but we have blackberries in the garden so there's no need to go for a walk. Perhaps I'll persuade him to go sloe-picking later in the year.

I've just realised that since the dog died, quite a few years ago now, I've never been out for a walk without a human companion. I don't really know why. There's no real reason not to walk on my own. Maybe I'll give it a try.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I would love a dog but don't want to be tied down.
I have Amazon music on my phone and have just got a free trial of audible books. I've bought myself a pair of Bluetooth earphones so I am hoping it might inspire me to walk more.

You could always borrow a dog. Loads of people who are working pay for someone to walk their dog. Health and and income!

Just back from a lovely 6mile walk in the Staffordshire countryside with a group of rambling friends. Perfect! 15k steps to boot.

We are also lucky enough to have lots of quiet rural walks straight from our front door. It was one of the reasons we moved to this house. However, I find walking much more pleasurable if I have someone to talk to. The miles go faster. DH doesn’t have a lot to say when we’re walking. Neither does he notice or hear things. He doesn’t seem to hear bird song, or buzzards calling, and a woodpecker could be drumming on top of his head before he took notice of it. I know he’s slightly deaf, but he can’t be that deaf!!

I live in a busy village near Oxford. I got the Ordnance Survey out and mapped the local foot paths. I then plotted half a dozen walks sticking to the footpaths and avoiding the roads. I then walk a different one every day. Some of mine take me up to the local hill. Others are around the village and along the local brook

Just take notice of everything around you. The change in seasons and weather. On a recent snowy day I went right to the top of the hill, well wrapped, but, oh boy was it cold. It was exhilarating and I could see to the edge of the downs 5 miles away. Three days earlier I had heard the first sky lark of 2018. I see voles and rabbits, wild flowers and birds, I watch the crops grow. I pick blackberries and greengages in season and would pick apples if I didn't have so many apple trees in the garden.

In the village I look at the houses their architecture, what it tells you about the area, then there are the gardens everything from the uncared for to the immaculate. When I do that I often talk to people wandering arous or doing gardening

I can't be bothered having pets. I walk fast and get out of breathe. Dog owners seem to amble and let their dog do all the rushing around.

I walk a lot and never get bored! You see so much on foot. Even when I walk the same route there is always something changing - new buds on trees, gardens coming into bloom, other pedestrians to nod and smile at ... Sometimes I walk along and hop on a bus for a stop or two, change my route back, endless possibilities.

I'm another that finds walking boring. I always feel I should be doing something useful or productive instead. I live in a rural area with no public transport but some maniac drivers so it's not even safe to walk on the road.

I also have a problem with one foot that makes walking in shoes painful.

I don't carry my phone around the house with me but perhaps I should, to see how many steps I do around the house.

And no, I'm not getting a dog! We have two cats and tbh, I don't want the extra responsibility or cost of a dog, even though I like them.

Do you have a bus pass?
There probably some surrounding areas that are only one or two stops away that would be great to explore.
We have local villages and small towns with lovely little shops and parks that ordinarily only the locals use.
When you go for your walk along the river take some bird food and bread.
And then take some photos of the lovely wildlife.

You are not alone Kacee. I loathe walking unless there is a purpose to it and agree it's boring. I did enjoy walking when I had a dog though. There's nowhere around here that's pleasant to walk to - a car is needed to get anywhere decent unfortunately. I have mobility problems [not serious but enough to put me off] which don't help although I really should walk more in reality. However I do go up and down stairs a lot as I'm always forgetting something, looking for something or fetching something!!!

I do 10000 just chuntering about really. Corner shop to get paper and back 1200 steps. To local supermarket and back 2000 steps. Post letter 2000 steps Into local town library/bank etc 8000 steps. Every little bit adds up.
Iron and take things up stairs one at a time 2000 steps!
Wander around house looking for lost keys 1000 steps at least!!!!!

Get a dog! Then you can revel in their sheer love and enjoyment of life on walks. Make lots of friends as well. The miles easily get eaten up.

I'm lucky that although I live in the city there are wonderful paths alongside canals and river so that I can easily do a 5 mile walk and only spend about 5 minutes on a "road".

However, I can't walk in the cold/wind/rain etc during the winter so I then go to a local gym and use the treadmill. Always have a nice audio book to listen to through earphones and the time goes very quickly. It isn't as good as being outside in the fresh air though, I think that is much better for my brain.