Walk for wellbeing
Under rated and under valued? What the simple act of walking can do for your health.
“If a medication existed which had a similar effect to physical activity [like walking], it would be regarded as a “wonder drug” or a “miracle cure” (England’s Chief Medical Officer 2010).
What walking means to me
Although I make little videos about my home workouts, walking in the outdoors with Dexter is an even bigger part of my life. My daily walks keep me healthy, fit and sane for sure. Either feeling the sand beneath my feet or looking up at the frackles (sunlight sparkles) in leafy woodland, walking in the outdoors lifts my spirits every single time. I also think we began to feel a deeper connection with other humans when we had our daily walk during lockdown. It became more of a precious thing that perhaps we need to remember now I wonder? We needed the connection both in terms of seeing other people experiencing the same “experience” …and also feeling so grateful to be able to get outside!
Walking works!
It can give us so many health benefits. Firstly being physically active can significantly improve our health by reducing the risk of several major health conditions by between 20% and 60%, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer and Alzheimers Disease (See Walking for Health). I’ve got my nurse head on now sorry! Generally being more active can help to maintain a healthy weight with regular brisk walking. If you are looking to burn fat too you can with cardio benefits if you regularly walk up hills for example. This is so important especially for women in midlife as regular walking can build those healthy muscles and bone around the menopause when osteoporosis is at its highest risk. I mentioned in my Thrive Hive recently newsletter that Julia Bradbury is my woman of the moment! She has helped walking become sexy in my view and I love how she has set up The Outdoor Guide with her sister to encourage us to walk more.
Mental health benefits
Especially over the last few months of corona virus and all the layers of stress and uncertainty, we need tools to help us manage our thoughts even more. The charity Mind explains how important getting out in nature is also beneficial for our mental health. Being outdoors can make us feel more relaxed and less stressed… and can improve our self-esteem and confidence too. As you are taking the time out for yourself (even if you are walking to work for example) you have made a decisive action to do something for you and this raises your sense of self worth and the feeling that you DO matter. This is something I have been talking about a lot recently both with my clients and on Instagram. These are all elements of self care…it doesn’t necessarily mean a bubble bath (although whatever works for you) as it means taking time out to care for ourselves. Those wonderful and mood-enhancing endorphins are released and that sense of wellbeing is magic to the soul.
A time for reflection
I love a walk in solitude (well Dexter is there bless him but you know what I mean) to really think or switch off and look up at the sky. It is a good time to listen to my podcast list and also room to be “creative”. By the way that is not something I would ever have have put in one of my sentences! This means for me something like writing client plans or content like this or for the newsletter. However if you are feeling lonely it is a great way to have company. There are so many organisations and guided walks that it is also something that you can do with others and can be such an easy way to connect and socialise and chat as you walk.
Connection and community
I love the idea behind the Mountains of the Mind charity campaign from the Trail magazine which promotes the mental health benefits of walking outdoors and the power of mountains. They run inclusive guided hill walks around the UK for people suffering from mental health problems. How amazing! There is one coming up in Ben Nevis but I’m not sure I will be there after last time i walked up that particular mountain! There may be some limitation on group numbers generally for guided walks at the moment, but local information is always a good start and a national information site such as the The Ramblers Association also has some brilliant advice on their website. Read it here
“One in four people in Britain experience mental health problems each year, but spending time outdoors can reduce the risk of depression by 30%.”
— Mind, The Mental Health Charity
Feel the benefits from the inside out
In my experience if you feel healthy you will want to eat healthier too and take care of your body with a different mindset. You can build stamina, make your heart healthier and burn excess calories too with regular and brisk walking. I really believe that small actions each day hold the power. So start small and set yourself up for success and not failure. Before we left Poole in Dorset, I walked to the hospital every day through the park and honestly it gave me such an energy charge to face the day of supporting my patients. Make it easy to start and easy to continue and before you know it you have a healthy habit. The Active 10 is a free NHS tracker app which helps you record and plan your walks.
So my friends make a structured time in the day to walk is my best advice….breathe…and don’t forget to look up at the sky.