Listen While You Walk: The best apps to keep you moving
So you’ve decided to walk more. Congratulations! Whether this is your first foray into starting a walking habit or you’re an old pro by now, you probably already have it figured out that daily walking can feel tedious at times, even while listening to your favorite playlist. Why not mix it up a little, and listen to something besides music while you walk? Here are a few options:
Enjoy an audiobook
Many books are even more engaging when read by a talented narrator, especially when it comes to a celebrity memoir or a gripping thriller. What’s more, since most audiobooks are anywhere from 6 to 15 hours long, you’ll want to keep moving just to find out what happens next.
Recommendations:
- Paid app such as Audible or Scribd, ask your local library if it has a system for lending audiobooks.
- this list of cheap or free sources of audiobooks.
- For Traditional Chinese Reader: Himalaya, ClassOne, and PressPlay Academy.
Get hooked on podcasts
If you’re not ready to commit to a lengthy audiobook, perhaps a podcast will keep you entertained on your walks. Most podcasts also keep their episodes roughly the same length, so you can use short daily podcasts for brief walks, and save lengthier weekly podcasts for when you have more time to stroll. Not sure where to start?
Recommendations:
Learn a language
A lot of us keep intending to pick up a new language, but find it difficult to make the time. Fortunately, there are plenty of language learning apps with purely listenable content that don’t require you to interact while you walk!
Recommendations:
- Language Transfer app audio-only lessons in multiple languages
- FluentU has an additional list of ways to learn languages hands-free.
- All Ears English: learn English!
Meditate
Most of us think of meditation as a seated activity, but it doesn’t have to be. Walking meditation is a form of mindfulness with a long history and numerous variations according to the place of origin. Today, many meditation apps offer guided walking meditations that encourage you to fully experience your surroundings as you walk.
Recommendations:
Turn walking into playing
Walkr is an app that combines a pedometer with a fun galaxy exploration game. By automatically tracking your steps, it keeps a record of the calories you burn each day! Explore the captivating galaxy while achieving your fitness goals. Find the method that works best for you and turn walking into something you look forward to!
