Walking can bring many pleasures and is one of the best types of physical activity. It’s a great way of boosting your mood and reducing stress by enjoying a woodland walk or admiring the sunrise or sunset. Walking is a great year-round activity, but can be particularly good in winter, when some people may find their mood drops or may find it more difficult to keep or take up other forms of exercise.
Even if it’s just a short walk to your nearest shop or a walk around a park with friends, incorporating walking into your lifestyle can have many benefits. Shorter days and more time indoors can sometimes contribute to feeling low in mood, so staying active and keeping in touch with friends and family can help to give your mood a boost.
Create time to be mindful - walking is a great form of exercise and provides time to think about anything which maybe troubling you, to be ‘mindful’. This can be helpful if you are struggling with both stress and health concerns such as cardiomyopathy.
Spend time with others - as a lighter form of exercise, walking can also be a good way to spend some time with friends and family without the busy distractions of every-day life. It’s a perfect excuse for a catch up over a hot coffee whilst you walk.
Stay active - Exercise can help some people to feel more uplifted when they are feeling low in mood or anxious. Walking helps to burn energy, which you store in your muscles. This helps your body to cope better with stress by utilising energy reserves
Manage stress - Managing stress is important in keeping our immune system healthy, which is particularly important during the winter months. Stress can be a feeling of being overwhelmed or under pressure - getting outside might help. Research suggests that just a view of the outdoors can be beneficial and just 20 minutes of outdoor time each day can reduce levels of stress hormones.
When walking, it’s important that you enjoy your activity, listen to your body and know your own limits.
Everyone is different and has their own ways of looking after their wellbeing. You may try a few different things before you find something that works for you. It can be helpful to talk to friends and family about how you’re feeling and share what works for you.
There are lots of resources available to help you look after your wellbeing, including on our website here.
Some other resources include:
NHS - Be Kind To Your Mind
Age UK - Keep Well This Winter
SAHM (Scottish Association for Mental Health) - Winter Wellbeing Hub
Walking 500 miles for Jenny
Claire lost her sister, Jenny, unexpectedly due to undiagnosed cardiomyopathy and decided to complete an incredible challenge in her memory.