How to walk 30 minutes a day - your tips

By Jessica Rawnsley Published 5 minutes ago Hundreds of people have shared the habits that help them walk every day after the BBC revealed plans for an NHS-backed scheme that will reward people for regular exercise. NHS England's "marathon a month" challenge - part of wider efforts to encourage physical activity - is due to launch next year and will ask participants to walk for around 30 minutes a day over the course of a month. Those who complete the challenge will be eligible for exercise rewards, although specific details have not yet been announced. While the NHS aims to boost exercise levels through incentives, readers told the BBC their biggest motivators were better physical and mental health, time in nature and making walking part of their daily routine. From walking the dog before breakfast to getting off the bus a stop early, here are some of the ways readers say they maintain a regular walking habit. 'Break it up into three 10-minute walks' Image source, Ed Shirt Ed Shirt, 25, recommends fitting in the 30 minutes wherever you can in the day and splitting it into chunks if that makes it more manageable. "Walk before work, on your lunch break or after dinner," he says. "You don't have to do all 30 minutes at once either - three 10-minute walks throughout the day add up just the same." Living by the coast in Prestatyn in Denbighshire, Wales, he often sets a timer and picks a landmark to walk to. "I get my half hour in literally just getting on the beach. There's something about the movement of walking that clears your mind. I love walking for my mental health." He says the key is to make walking part of a daily routine rather than treating it as a workout. "Walking is one of the easiest ways to boost both your physical and mental wellbeing, and once it becomes a habit, you'll really notice the difference." 'Get off the bus a few stops early' Image source, Georgia Blackwood/BBC Georgia Blackwood, from Dudley in the West Midlands, says she builds walking into daily life by getting off the bus a couple of stops before her destination and opting to walk rather than use public transport where she can. "Getting on and off the bus a couple of stops early or later is how I get my steps in," she says. "I also walk instead of getting buses for shorter journeys." The approach helps her stay active without needing to set aside extra time. "My town centre is about four stops away from me so I walk there, then I do my shopping and load my backpack and carry it back so I'm doing weights too." 'Find someone you enjoy walking with' Image source, Barry Nicholson For 51-year-old Barry Nicholson, walking is easiest with a companion - particularly his energetic beagle Max. "Thirty minutes of walking per day is fairly simple for a dog owner," he says. He walks Max for 45 minutes every day, come rain or shine, and sometimes for longer at the weekend. "Having a dog is one of the biggest tips - once you know you've got the responsibility to keep him exercised, ke