Our modern lifestyles significantly impact our mental capacity. It is common to feel overwhelmed and stretched too thin. As a result, brain fog and a diminishing ability to focus are becoming standard. If you find it increasingly more complex to concentrate, the solution might be simpler than you imagine. Sometimes, the most helpful solution is the most simple one.
A simple daily walk can improve focus and concentration. That’s right! A Harvard Medical School research study revealed that walking and other regular exercise release brain chemicals that help you concentrate.
Walking when stressed or overwhelmed might not seem like helpful advice, but it is. Walking has many physical and mental health benefits that are often overlooked.
So, whether you’re having difficulty focusing, overwhelmed with life, or just stressed overall, walking might be precisely what you need.
Before you lace up your walking shoes, let’s talk more about some of the exciting benefits of walking.
Mental Health Benefits Of Walking
Due to many factors, walking will help improve your brain and mental health. WebMD states, “Walking helps boost your mood by increasing blood flow and blood circulation to the brain and body. It positively influences your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is your central nervous response system. The HPA axis is responsible for your stress response. When you walk for exercise, you calm your nerves, making you feel less stressed.” As stress decreases, focus and concentration increase.
Walking improves your body’s response to stress, releasing chemicals in your brain that help you feel happier. The fresh air and nature provide an added bonus, creating even more space in your mind and your physical environment. It can also be beneficial, especially if you’re taking a break from work.
Walking outside will refresh your scenery and remind you that there is a life outside of work, something that some people have expressed difficulty remembering when sucked into intense concentration at work.
Physical Health Benefits of Walking
The physical benefits of walking aren’t limited to reducing body fat or weight loss; walking improves the function of all of your major organs. Walking is a cardio exercise that benefits your heart, lungs, and brain and can decrease your likelihood of heart disease and dementia. Walking can improve your balance and muscle health while strengthening your bones.
Walking for a prolonged period will work out muscles in your feet and calves. Dedicating thirty minutes daily to brisk walking will grant you all these benefits. You will experience reduced body fat and increased fitness levels.
Here’s a list of some of the physical health benefits that you can experience from a daily walk:
- Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat
- Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
- Improve cardiovascular fitness
- Strengthen your bones and muscles
- Improve muscle endurance
- Increase energy levels
- Improve your mood, cognition, memory, and sleep
- Improve your balance and coordination
- Strengthen immune system
- Reduce stress and tension
Incorporating a daily walk into your routine might be easier than you think. If you have a dog, you can take your furry friend for long walks rather than just letting them out in the yard. Both of you will benefit from the short and long-term benefits of walking. You might consider getting one if you don’t have a dog and are serious about walking more. However, if you don’t have a dog to walk, you can wear cool headphones and listen to podcasts, audiobooks, and music on your daily walks. You feel entertained as you walk. You could also listen to a walking meditation and enjoy nature outside.
Walking to Clear Your Head
Walking can provide a healthy escape from anything that stresses or troubles you. If you’re having a difficult time with work or personal relationships, walking outside and getting fresh air can help clear your mind. Taking walks out in nature is especially recommended if you’re at work or school. Instead of sitting at your desk eating a packed lunch, try to go to a local spot requiring you to leave your building and eat outside.
If a restaurant is within walking distance of your job, walk there and back on your lunch break. It will wake you up, clear your head, boost creativity, and give you a good amount of exercise. If you work from home, walk around your neighborhood during your break, and don’t forget to take Fido along.
Conclusion
You may roll your eyes at the concept of walking being so helpful for your mental and physical health, but it truly does work. Even if you can’t do thirty minutes daily, start by doing ten and add on slowly. Soon, you may want to take more walks for extended periods and enjoy the benefits from it. I started to walk around the block daily during the early pandemic just to get out of the house and get some fresh air. That consistent habit turned into two miles, then three and four miles daily. Walking daily has transformed my entire life by boosting my physical and mental health, increasing fitness levels, cognition, better sleep, and overall happiness.
You can do this!!
Be well + prosper + walk,
Elaine xx
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