Buckinghamshire developer reveals top tips to put a spring in your step this national walking month

To combat the declining levels of activity since lockdown began, leading Buckinghamshire developer is encouraging residents in the county to lace up this National Walking Month.

David Wilson Homes actively chooses the locations of its developments based on a number of aspects including proximity to open spaces and parks, with its Lavendon Fields development being no exception.

The Soames Close development is an exciting new community of three, four and five bedroom homes and consists of 44% open space.

Prior to the pandemic, Sport England revealed that activity levels had been increasing. As the lockdown restrictions were introduced, unprecedented drops in activity were seen during the first few weeks of full lockdown between mid-March and mid-May[i].

Jason Hearn, Sales Director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “We want to encourage residents living at, or looking to move to, our Lavendon Fields development to consider the fantastic benefits of being close to green open spaces”

“Living near spaces like this is a great opportunity to increase your exercise levels and get active, especially as the weather starts to improve over spring.

“We hope that these top tips help to inspire and encourage those who may have lost their mojo during the pandemic to get back out there, whilst staying safe and putting their health first.”

The top tips include:

Celebrate your surroundings

Having open spaces nearby can really have a positive impact on those looking to find the motivation to get up and get moving. Residents at Lavendon Fields can reap the many benefits of having beautiful countryside on their doorstep and the River Great Ouse close by.

According to research, those who have a greater exposure to green open space have a more favourable level of stress, heart rate and blood pressure.

In addition, several reviews have found an association between nature and positive emotions, evidence also shows links between greener living environment and higher life satisfaction, reduced mental distress and strong evidence of improved self-rated mental health.[1]

Use the indoors and much as the outdoors

As the English weather may not always permit outdoor activity, consider starting some workouts indoors. Not only will you not have to worry about other people or having the right gear, but you may feel more motivated and confident in the comfort of your own home. If you’re looking to increase your steps, things such as walking up and down the stairs are a great way to get your heart rate up.

Take each day as it comes

Using an app to keep track of things such as your daily steps and active minutes can be a great way to keep yourself inspired and make you want to do more exercise. Whilst it’s good to consider these when developing your new plan, it’s also important to remember not to beat yourself up if you’re not quite where you want to be, or if you’re not yet seeing results.

Use each day to ask yourself what you can achieve and how far you can push yourself and then set your boundaries from there. Resting is just as important as being active, so ensure your home is a sanctuary for breaks too and make yourself a space to enjoy some space away from your day-to-day life. Setting reachable goals is a great first step to becoming more active, so keep this in mind and take things day by day.

To make an appointment, or to speak with the David Wilson Homes sales team about Lavendon Fields, call 033 3355 8486 or visit https://www.dwh.co.uk/new-homes/milton-keynes/h801201-lavendon-fields/.

[1]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904439/Improving_access_to_greenspace_2020_review.pdf

[i] https://sportengland-production-files.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2020-10/Active%20Lives%20Adult%20May%2019-20%20Coronavirus%20Report.pdf?2L6TBVV5UvCGXb_VxZcWHcfFX0_wRal7