To feel your best:

Step It Up
"An easy stroll will lift your mood somewhat, but the real psychological benefits come from walking briskly," says Alice Domar, Ph.D., director of the Mind/Body Center for Women's Health at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston. For optimal physical and psychological health, aim to work up to an hour-long power walk three times a week. But you can feel good about any brisk walk you can squeeze into your busy life.

Forget Yourself
Rather than ruminate on your problems, focus on your step cadence, repeating a two-beat phrase, such as "left, right, left, right." Or concentrate on the sights, sounds, and smells you encounter.

Don't Let Fatigue Stop You
A brisk walk is actually a great way to counteract fatigue, so it's a good idea to schedule one when you tend to flag �?say, in midafternoon. You'll have more energy later.

Be Grateful
As you walk, silently repeat an empowering phrase, using one beat for each step you take: "I am strong," "I am happy," "Life is good," "I am healthy." You'll get an extra psychological boost �?beyond walking itself �?from such affirmations, says Carolyn Scott Kortge, author of The Spirited Walker. "Affirmations are hard to do sitting in a chair, but walking is the perfect time for them," she says.