This week (13-19 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week. There are many methods that we as humans can use to better our state of mind. Walking for your mental health is one of my favourite things to do, and it’s so easy to incorporate this into your daily routine.
The theme this year is body image and how we think and feel about our bodies. An easy way to instantly improve how you feel about your body is by walking tall. This is also an ideal way to improve posture and reduces the chance of back problems developing.
According to Mind, approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. This stark statistic highlights that, while it is important to have a week which shows the importance of good mental health, it’s vital that practices such as walking, which instil good mental health, are encouraged every day of the year.
Physical activity has been proven to help people boost their mood, sleep better, and manage stress and anxiety. Getting physical doesn’t have to mean going for a run. Simply going for a walk through the countryside can work wonders to help boost employee morale, reduce stress and help to improve the quality of sleep.
Walking for your mental health can also boost your self-esteem, reduce the risk of depression and allows you to build friendships with like-minded people.
I make walking a key part of my day, ensuring that I spend plenty of time outdoors each day enjoying nature with my dogs.
Incidentally, May is National Walking Month which is the perfect excuse to get up and go for a walk.
We believe that every organisation should go #FreeRangeAtWork, encouraging their employees to embrace the great outdoors at every available opportunity.
Surely walking for your mental health is a #NoBrainer?
