Emergency Walking Guide

Tired of being stuck inside during the cold? Feel yourself turning into a slug? Maybe you've suffered an injury or surgery and just want to start moving again. The usual suggestion is to get out and walk, but it's winter. Although we haven't had much snow or ice, the temps are low, often with "feels like" readings in the single digits.

I'm okay in lower temps, more so than many people, especially if the sun is out, which it usually isn't. But the biggest issue this winter has been icy, gusting winds. When my phone says 3-5 mph winds, I'm fine. When it gets to 8-10 mph, I know I'm going to feel it. But on too many days the winds have been in the 18-23 mph range and that's just crazy. So, it will be a while before I'm going for a stroll in the park.

-Shopping malls were always a great place to walk. There's something to look at--store windows and an interesting assortment of people. Most importantly, if  your stamina is low, there are places to sit at reasonable intervals. That used to be a good option until my closest mall closed and the other take 20-30 minutes of driving one way. That's extra time I rarely have.

I've found that the next best alternative is to choose a big box store. They have the added bonus of shopping carts if you're feeling a little shaky.

Rotate the stores so you don't get bored and, to increase your mileage, walk up and down every aisle, even if you find the merchandise boring. Try not to do the type of shopping that requires you to stand and consider various choices. Or save it until most of your walking is done. Things you can throw in the cart as you pass by are okay.

In mini-department stores like Target, the shoe department always has seating. Then see if they have any furniture out. I've made use of patio displays, various chairs, and once I took a stool off of a stack and put it on the floor. If anyone notices, I just smile. And I've never had an employee complain, but I'm ready to explain that I was feeling just a bit faint and needed to sit for a minute.

In places like Home Depot, make sure you check out the back of the store where they have kitchen and bathroom dis[ays. There's rarely seating there, but there are the desks where you can sit to place an order. This is one of the times when you don't want the store to be busy.

And if you can't find other seating, there's always the bathroom. It may not be pretty, but it's serviceable.