Get up & go for a walk

The benefits of exercise are well documented when it comes to our physical health. And a lot of people are put off trying for various different reasons, that rebellious streak that we all have, wins out. Let’s face it nobody likes to be told what to do or that they are unfit or over-weight!

However, over recent years the benefits that exercising can bring to people’s mental health is being to grow ever popular and for good reason. It’s doesn’t matter what effort. amount or type of exercise we undertake it all has a positive effect on our mental wellbeing.

the power of stepping away

For me, I discovered the power that just stepping away from the computer for just half an hour each day to go out for a walk around the block made a huge difference in my life.

A few years ago, I decided in the after Christmas sales that I would buy a Fitbit so as to encourage myself to get up from my desk that I had begun sitting at hour after hour, day after day in increasing amounts. And, somewhat surprisingly to me, it had the desired effect. I suppose I found that I am a little competitive with such things and although it was only me seeing whether or not I hit a certain milestone or the 10,000 steps a day it was enough to make me do it.

the benefits

I knew that I would start to see the benefits physically, I began to lose some weight and my body began to feel like I could stand straighter and not just be in a permanent squished up sitting position all the time.

But the biggest area I began to notice changing was my mental attitude. Working longs hours sat a desk in a creative career can be challenging on a daily basis, and with the added stress of running my own business. I found though that when I started to feel the pressure building, the anxiety of having a creative block, instead of sitting there trying to persevere through it I should get up and go for a walk around the block.

“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”

Friedrich Nietzsche

the result

The result of this amazed me, my stress levels reduced drastically and at this period of my life I was experiencing some of the hardest personal challenges life can through at you whilst still dealing with the stresses of my work life. Now I’m not saying it’s a miraculous cure all, but I look back and think without it, I really don’t know how I well I would’ve been able to cope.

Creatively, I find going for a walk an amazing addition to my skillset. The fresh air into my lungs and brain certainly lift a fog, creating plenty of room for thoughts and ideas to develop. I know that by walking, it helps my body to create endorphins which in turn reduces stress hormones, but in my opinion, it is more the ability it gives my mind the space to organize in turn then reduces my stress levels as I feel more organized about how I’m going to tackle any of the issues that are stressing me out in the first place.

a firm fixture in my daily routine

Now, like every new habit or activity for my personal happiness, my daily walks fell by the wayside a little and I forgot to give it the attention that it and I deserved. And the result of this was horrible, I felt grumpy, more stressed and annoyed with myself for letting other less valuable things get in the way. But no more, it is now firmly placed into personal wellbeing and daily routine once again and it feels great!

So, bookmark more Tea & Time reading for later and get outside and go for a walk.