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Comment by freehunter | Hacker News Reader

>Start walking, at least 8km... dont walk when its dark outside, you need the sunlight.

An 8km walk at a brisk walking pace is a little under an hour and a half (average 10k running times is about an hour). I get out of work at 5pm, and it's officially dark by 5:30pm. I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but this one is literally impossible for anyone in the northern latitudes (New York, Chicago, Seattle, London, Berlin, Hong Kong, even San Fransisco is officially dark before 6pm this time of year).

Instead, I'd suggest focusing on taking vitamin D supplements if you don't have a lot of sun then taking a vigorous walk whenever you can. You don't need one more thing to be anxious about!

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Yes, I know, I live far north where the sun sets early and comes up late, we also have harsh winters, so its a challenge.

But building muscles and stamina is critical for recovery and walking/workout is something almost everyone can do. Running is much much harder, it takes a heavier toll on the body and when starting out your more likely to get sick etc.

When you set the routine (takes a month), you will long for walk every day, everything seems to calm down allot during and after the walks.

There's no rule that you have to do a specific amount, the same amount, at the same time, all at once, every day. Just break it up and relax.

Take a quick break from work in the mid-morning and walk outside for 15 minutes instead of drinking coffee. Go out for half an hour (or whatever) at lunchtime, go for another 15 min break in the afternoon instead of more coffee. Occasionally invite a coworker to go with you. If you can discuss business (on occasion) you can keep working while you walk. Then another 20 minutes in the dark after work.

And some days less, some days more, and extra on weekends.

The requirement to obey strict walking rules will end up CAUSING the anxiety it's supposed to relieve. Just make it a fun break and take fun breaks here and there when you can.

You can do it in the morning without too much trouble, if you can drag yourself out of bed. I get up around 6, and walk my dog 3-4 miles every morning between 6:30-7:30. This is a bit north of Boston, and it's already getting dark by 4:30 PM now, so afternoons are out. Whee, daylight savings time!

... unless you have to be to work at 7 like me.

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