Walking and Mental Health

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

14 Mar 2006 10:46 AM

A therapist once suggested that I try to take a walk every single day. Part of that was just to get me out of the house; part of that was because walking is good for your mind!

Think about it. Sitting around the house doing nothing can be kind of depressing. Even if you are super-busy all day, if you rarely get the chance to get out, you're going to get very tired of the same four walls. Walking gives you a chance at a new perspective! A stroll around the neighborhood, especially now that spring is here, shows you that the world around you is growing and changing.

I took a walk yesterday and discovered a huge carved statue of a bear in a neighbor's yard. Thank goodness for camera phones! I would never ever have imagined ANYONE would have a giant carved bear if I hadn't happened to choose that block for my walk.

A walk, even a short one, gives you a chance to stretch your muscles and get the blood pumping. And once you're in motion, walking feels good! Depending on what time of day you're walking...

• You may see kids playing in the school yard at recess
• You may see young mothers with babies in strollers
• You may see puppies tumbling in your neighbor's yard
• You may see flowers and trees blooming
• You may see someone adding a story to their house

Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that there is a lot of stuff going on outside your house and outside your mind. Walk to the nearest park; maybe you'll strike up a conversation with a new friend. Even just smiling at someone and getting a smile in return will help improve your mood! If you've got a friend to walk with -- that's even better! You've got a chance to chat and catch up on all the important things in your walking buddy's life.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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