Walking for Mental Health

Most people know how a good walk can help you collect your thoughts, especially during those stressful times.

However there’s a lot more to it than that…

Walking improves your overall well-being, and helps fight depression. Even just being in the outdoors in green natural spaces is beneficial to your mental health.

Any kind of exercise is good for physical and mental health but we can all take the first steps to fitness through a daily walk. It doesn’t have to be a marathon just start with a stroll. Just getting out of the house and getting some fresh air works wonders. Whether you live in a built-up area or in the countryside there are always walks on your doorstep.

Walking can be amazing for your mental well-being

It's not just about the occasional one-off feel good factor. Being active has a whole range of benefits when it comes to mental well-being.

It improves self-perception and self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, and it reduces stress, anxiety and fatigue. Studies show that physically active people have up to a 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed, and staying active helps those who are depressed recover.

With the older generation, staying active can improve cognitive function, memory, attention and processing speed, and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Exercising with others can have even greater impact

As it provides an opportunity to strengthen social networks, talk through problems with others or simply laugh and enjoy a break from family and work.

Walking makes you happy

Yes it’s true – exercise boosts your mood. Studies show that a brisk walk is just as effective as antidepressants in mild to moderate cases of depression, releasing feel-good endorphins while reducing stress and anxiety.

So, for positive mental health, walking’s an absolute must.