Why You Should Walk to Boost Your Mental Health
We’ve all likely heard that exercise gives us endorphins, but do you know the benefits that endorphins have on your mental health? Endorphins release a feel-good chemical into your brain that give you a boost of confidence, clarity, and positivity. When you are feeling down or having a particularly difficult day, you should consider taking a walk. A 30-minute walk can truly change your outlook for the better. As a counselor in Winter Park, we recommend exercises such as walking to our clients to boost their mood and relieve their stress. These are a few of the reasons why you should walk to boost your mental health.
Relieves Stress
Stress can lead to many health issues, such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, and heart disease. If not properly managed, stress can decrease the overall quality of your life. Living a healthier and more active lifestyle is just one of the ways to manage your stress. Aerobic exercise is the perfect way to decompress and lower stress. When you are feeling overwhelmed with work, life, or household responsibilities, a walk can provide you with that little bit of time away from your tasks that you need to decompress and unwind.
Boosts Creativity
Walking away from a difficult task can bring them clarity. It can provide them with perspective that they did not have before they got fresh air and movement. Being active by taking a walk can allow your brain to ignite creativity. Aerobic exercise pumps blood through your body to your brain, providing fresh oxygen that can lead to clearer, and more creative, thinking. When you are feeling stuck in the same patterns or struggling with mental health, get outdoors and look at the world around you as you briskly walk through the park, neighborhood, or city. By engaging with the outside world, you open your mind to new possibilities and instill a new way of thinking.
Has Mood-Boosting Qualities
Physical activities, like hobby walking, release endorphins into your brain. These endorphins cause you to feel happier and more energetic. Next time you are feeling low, take a short walk to elevate your mood and boost your self-esteem. This will get your blood pumping, which also helps to improve your energy levels. As you increase your heart rate, you will feel those happy hormones, endorphins, being released into your body. This will provide you with a renewed spirit and confidence boost in less than thirty minutes.
Calms Your Mind
Walking offers many meditative, calming qualities that help people feel more grounded, perform clear thinking, and feel more at ease. When you walk with intention, you can take a look at the world around you and notice specific things in nature to keep your grounded and stay in the present moment.
