“One Thing” is a column that collects tips on how to live your life.
For 10 years, my husband and I, both stay-at-home moms, typically sat on the couch after dinner and looked at our phones or watched a TV series or movie. Our dog had already been walked and fed, so he was quick to cuddle. We spent the night. However, our baby girl was born in May of this year and all of our schedules changed. There’s a lot of confusion about new parenthood, but one routine we’ve adopted is one we wish we had done sooner, and one we would recommend to anyone.
One night when my daughter was two months old, we all went for a walk to try to calm her down and put her to sleep. During that 15 minute outing, the sky began to turn a darker shade and a wind began to shake the trees. Only a ray of light remained. My husband, baby, 7-year-old Goldendoodle, and I took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. We screamed at our daughter, my husband’s arm draped over my shoulders, and enjoyed the lack of background noise (other than passing sirens, we live in a city). I was raised by a single mother in the same apartment complex where I live now. However, although I knew the area well, I had never had an experience like this before.
By the time we got home, the baby was fast asleep. The usual TV time started and everyone, adults and dogs alike, was completely relaxed. “Wow, we should do this every night,” I suggested. And we did.
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Scientists agree on the benefits of walking. Even a short walk can promote mental health, and taking it after meals can benefit your physical health. After a person eats a meal, blood sugar levels typically rise for up to an hour. A 2023 study found that walking for just 5 minutes after eating can lower blood sugar levels (compared to being sedentary). If you do this habit regularly, you can ultimately reduce your long-term risk of diabetes and heart disease.
But the purpose is simpler than that. A walk after dinner is a spark in my life, a small thing that causes joy. I always look forward to it. It’s only once a day that we are all together, fully present and connected to each other.
As the weather gets cooler and evenings get darker earlier due to daylight savings time, our rituals change. Still, I’ll try to make time for a short walk in the evening. The best part about this routine is that there is no destination and the journey is all about wandering. It’s not goal-oriented, and it doesn’t have any intention other than to get everyone together before settling back into their lives. Apartment.
