Regardless of where Warren is in the country, she gets her steps in simply by doing laps in parking lots. “Sometimes it just really means circling the parking lot, but each time thinking, ‘Okay, but I’m moving,’” she told GQ.
Walking is simple and easy on the joints, but it counts as aerobic exercise. It’s recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity) a week, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
This habit also has lots of benefits beyond just physical fitness. A 2014 study found that walking “opens up the free flow of ideas,” and is an easy way to boost creativity. Walking through nature has been shown to improve your mood and memory. Other studies suggest that a light to moderate-intensity walk can help you sleep.
And you don’t have to walk several miles like Warren to reap the calming benefits: A 10-minute walk is just as good as a 45-minute workout for anxiety relief, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
As for her fiction habit, studies suggest people who read fiction tend to have high levels of emotional intelligence and empathy.
Of course, Warren also has other, less active ways to kick back. She and her husband, Bruce Mann, “love an hour of good TV,” she told Rolling Stone.
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