This story originally appeared on Today.com.
When you’re cooped up inside all day, any chance you can get to enjoy a walk is a welcome reprieve from the monotony of quarantine. Sure, your at-home workouts are keeping you in shape, but a daily walk can boost your mental health and has many social and emotional benefits.
“Walking allows you to see other people and say hello at a safe distance. That brief social interaction is enough to boost your mood and make you smile. It’s also a nice change of scenery,” says Michele Stanten, an ACE-certified trainer and author of “Walk Off Weight.” “I like taking socially distanced walks with a friend. We’re able to spread far apart while carrying on a conversation. It allows you to physically be with a friend and exercise,” she says.