WHY WALKING IS AN AMAZING WAY TO BOOST YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

If there is one thing you could do, it is free and you have the legs - IT IS WALKING. Why walking and why it is important?

It is actually a form of exercise, very easy and simple activity for your physical body.

I am here sharing an article that is written by Sara McCloskey (read on 03\01\2025). She writes "There are many benefits to exercising, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies show that children and adolescents who lived more sedentary lifestyles, meaning they are not very active, develop more symptoms of depression. Physical activity helps improve the way children think and process information. Regularly exercising or taking part in physical activities has been shown to improve brain health as you get older, which impacts learning, judgement skills and reduces the risks of depression and anxiety. It can also reduce short-term feelings of anxiety for adults." 

I can agree on that part 100%, if I am being more than one 1-2 days inside, I see a big shift on my mental wellbeing - lots of negative toughts are coming up, which means I am becoming more moody and very restless. The focus goes on totally negative things and even creating problems that aren't problems in the first place. I think why we get quite depressed being stuck in the room for long time is that the energies aren't really moving nor refreshing by themselves, so you just "happily" sit there altogether with stagnant heavy emotions, which are bringing us down a lot. We have arms, legs and brain for a reason - to use it. So use it. We are meant to move and being active.

Continuing " For example, one study exploring this topic looked at the difference between walking in nature versus walking in an urban environment, with equal distances. The participants who walked in nature showed an improved mood state.
The mood benefiting effect of being in nature may also be due to the experience itself. Simply put, when we know we are not isolated beings, it helps our moods, and being in nature can help us experience this."

Honestly, whenever I have thought about going for a walk, I mean walking in nature, not in the city. Walking in the forest or seaside I feel how nature is cleansing me energetically. I always feel after the walk this good kind of tiredness and clean feeling mentally (I dont know if that makes any kind of sense). We need nature, atleast I know I need! 

"Essentially, when full-spectrum light hits our retina (the back of the eye that is part of the brain), a signal is directly transmitted to multiple parts of the brain. Some of these areas are involved in regulating mood states, pain perception, and memory. Light also directly impacts our sleep-wake cycles, and these circadian cycles absolutely have an impact on optimal mood states. Optimal sleep and a good mood are nearly always partners." So light it is! LIGHT makes the difference! The word light itself sounds light, pleasant, heavenly and it's coming somewhere high and stays in high (I don't know why it came into my mind while writing, but I had to share). Anyways, it makes sense, when I don't see enough sunlight, I am then during the daytime in a sleepymode, doesn't matter how much I have slept or how healthy I am eating, I feel so sleepy on days with no sun outside.

I HAVE GOTTEN IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE PROBLEMS 

I don't know about you, but I have felt so much relief after nice walks with baby or by myself, because I got new brilliant ideas! Now how this works? Well, our thinking gets like a punch from the fresh air and its like shaking up all the negatives energies and worries, making it empty, so new fresh energies are riding in because there was no space before with all that negativity! Our brain gets the boost and activation and starts working again, it is like doing a restart for the computer. And we need that restart to see things in clear sober way not emotional ways. We don't solve and analyze things with emotions! Emotions have their own place.

IF I DON'T MOVE I ALSO FEEL HOW MY BODY GETS LIKE STIFF AND WEIRD

I feel it strongly on my hips, back and legs if not moving enough. When we walk, our muscles are getting toned up, supporting the joints, enhancing the balance, maintaining a healthy bodyweight, increasing the circulation, lowering blood pressure and strengthening the heart. So many benefits! Minimum 30 minutes is needed a day to get those benefits. This also means to have a proper shoes for it, so it would make the walk comfortable and enjoyable, not to forget the posture! And another good reward I get out of it is that I do sleep better at nights!

So put those shoes on, take the first step and the rest is history! Once you are out, you are also out of your comfy zone (home).

Happy walking,

Lisa-M