Wellbeing Moments: Walking with Nature
A lot is said about people not being active enough. However not everyone is a gym bunny or enjoys jogging. Walking could be an alternative choice. It is is good for you on so many levels. If you are minded to you can use the step counting app on your mobile to set a step goal or as a motivator. You only need to wear a pair of comfortable of shoes or trainers.
Those of us that live in the can often be hard to find suitable green spaces to be close to nature. However at the moment if we look around us we can notice the trees beginning to bud, the blossom and the baby birds learning to fly it is all very beautiful.
If you can drive a little out of the city and walk with your family to a forest or to a green open space and just walk for a while it will have a beneficial impact for your mental and physical health. Try to make time for a wellbeing moment during the week in between the hustle and bustle that is life. It is not easy, but it is necessary. If you are working and unable to make time for a morning or evening walk take a walk during your lunch hour. Walk home from the station instead of waiting for a bus if it is feasible.
According to the British Heart Foundation walking can help your balance, it can help to slow down bone loss in ageing which happens to everyone. It can help to lower the risk of osteoporosis. Walking regularly is good for your heart and can and can reduce your blood pressure. In addition, can have a positive impact on your immune system.
Research by Edinburgh University found that when some individuals walked in green spaces there was a noticeable reduction in individuals anxiety levels. Walking briskly for 30 mins a day for five days can improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. One reason for this might be because during some activities the body releases endorphins. These are hormones which are known as the body’s natural painkiller. In turn this creates a feeling of wellbeing.
Remember to take some water with you if you’re going for a long walk. Make sure that you check with your Doctor or Nurse if you have a long-term illness and you’re not sure. Just to be on the safe side.
Sometimes we need to take responsibility for our own creating our own snippets of happiness. Then we find ourselves unable to respond to situations that are outside of our control we have the resilience recognise our role in the situation and conserve our energy instead of being hyped up about it.
Walking is one of the ways that we can build up that stamina. As the days are now longer let’s get outside and utilise that light before it disappears again for another six months.
Refs:
Walking for Health – Dr William Bird and Veronica Reynolds
British Heart Foundation
Workshops: At Balance is taking bookings for the August 2025 Summer workshops make sure that your young people don’t miss out. The workshops will teach them the benefits of nature and complement the stem skills that they will be learning at school.