The 3 Unsuspected Benefits of Walking on Mental Health.
Walking 10,000 steps a day has virtues that go beyond physical health.
10,000 steps a day!
This may seem like a lot if you don't walk regularly, but it's what the World Health Organization recommends to stay healthy. Ten thousand steps a day is the minimum amount of activity required to stay in shape, maintain physical health, and control your weight.
For as long as this message has been repeated, we all know the benefits of walking on our physical health. However, when you talk about the benefits of walking on mental health, you will see that many people are doubtful.
However, it would be a mistake to think that walking will only benefit your physical health. I will detail the 3 unsuspected benefits of walking on mental health in the following. Hopefully, this will inspire you to adopt this good daily habit.
1. Boosting your happiness hormones
On a mental level, walking reduces anxiety, decreases depressive symptoms, and increases self-esteem. The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatment even recommends walking as an effective treatment for depression. And these benefits are mainly due to three hormones:
Endorphin
Serotonin
Dopamine
These three hormones are more commonly known as “happy hormones”. The more you walk, the more oxygen will increase in the body. The brain will then release these hormones. This phenomenon has been observed in athletes.
The work of scientists has established the benefits of walking to prevent psychological disorders on the very broad spectrum that goes from the stress of modern life to depression. Walking releases endorphins that contribute to our feeling of well-being, allow us to better situate ourselves in our lives, and strengthen our self-esteem.
2. Reducing anxiety
The fact of being distracted also plays an essential role. When you walk, you focus on the physical effort and not so much on your mind, which can take a little break. The physical effort allows you to completely clear your head. That's why I take advantage of my lunch break to go walking every day. When I come back, my mind is freer and I can focus again on the tasks I need to accomplish.
Besides, walking improves sleep quality which drastically reduces anxiety. Walking for 30 to 40 minutes several times a week is enough to decompress, and calm down but also to see more clearly by avoiding mental rumination. It is an excellent cognitive booster and a natural tranquilizer.
The environment also counts since it has been proven that walking outside in nature reduces depression and anxiety. Walking in a group also helps break the isolation. So it's a great idea to take walks with other people.
3. Finding yourself
Be careful, the positive effects can only be felt if there is no question of wanting to improve your body image or enter into a performance logic. I know some people who quickly start setting goals when they start walking. This detracts from the positive effects of walking, as you are once again cluttering your mind with distracting thoughts.
The goal is to move towards something better. When you feel stuck, take action, look away, around you and expand your horizon.
By walking, you get away from the overstress of everyday life. There is a bit of a spiritual quest dimension in walking. It is an opportunity to find yourself, to start an inner dialogue to find harmony between body and mind. I find this when I go to the mountains on vacation and do long hikes.
It allows me to think of nothing else but nature. The silence of the mountains is also extremely soothing. When you come back from a long hike in the mountains, you are tired, but it is good tiredness. Fatigue that allows you to sleep better afterward and to have made peace with yourself.