4 Psychological Benefits of Walking
Physical exercise is very good for your body. However, it’s also good for your brain. Today, we want to talk to you about something specific: the psychological benefits of walking.
Psychological benefits of walking
Walking doesn’t make you tired. On the contrary, it’s fun and, you can do it at your own pace. Although it looks like it doesn’t do much, it impacts your mind more than you think.
1. It frees your mind.
One of the first psychological benefits of walking is setting your mind free. Do you know the feeling that you get when you can’t think clearly? This happens when you need to make an important decision. Or, maybe you find yourself in the middle of a conflict.
For different situations, it’s necessary to give yourself time. Additionally, it’s essential to get perspective. Consequently, you can get a better look at things when you settle your feelings.
However, it’s impossible for you to do this closed up in your four walls. You need to get out into the open air and move. Walking means taking an action of moving forward. Leave any baggage behind you.
Do this from time to time. You’ll see with much more clarity.
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2. It helps you say goodbye to tension
We live with a lot of pressure nowadays. We also live under almost constant stress. Because of this, it’s normal that we don’t know how to control our emotions. Many times, we find ourselves angry without knowing why.
Many people do this without knowing it. When you spend many hours working, immersed in a single task or project, take a minute. And so, when you find yourself overwhelmed, take a walk.
Stretch your legs and move a little in the area you are and you’ll be able to see things more clearly. Human beings aren’t machines, thus, you need moments of rest in order to keep working. Sleeping, relaxing, and taking a break from everything that makes you anxious is a good thing.
This makes sure that nothing will keep you stuck. Additionally, this will also help stop you from being consumed by your thoughts.
Stress has a devastating effect on your health. As a result, it’s important to get rid of this condition, or at least keep it under control.
3. It stops the thoughts that keep going in circles
There are some thoughts in your mind you should be aware of. Once they come up and get settled, they stay. However, this isn’t necessarily negative, except for the fact that many of these ideas are. You chew on them, and you turn them over a thousand times. Finally, you don’t find a true solution.
These thoughts turn into a vicious circle. This is one that takes a lot of energy to get out of. After all, is anyone able to control their own mind?
Among the psychological benefits of walking, you’ll be able to “untangle” yourself from all of these ideas that won’t leave you in peace.
Clearing your mind makes you ignore these thoughts. This happens until there’s nothing left but walking.
Plus, you’ll also be able to give yourself time to visualize them from another angle. This will let you realize that they aren’t that important.
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4. It increases your creativity
If you have a creative job, maybe you’ve found yourself in a position where you have a mental block. This makes it hard to do your job because you aren’t creative.
This is a severe inconvenience. However, when your brain works well, your projects and jobs shine in all their glory.
Your mind is always open and free to receive new ideas. You can stimulate it with the sensations you find when simply walking.
This activity doesn’t require too much effort. However, you’ll be full of all of your creativity.
When you walk, you’ll find different stimuli. These can activate your creative streak.
Have you ever been inspired by a video? Or maybe it happened by talking with someone? The creativity is something you can’t get by forcing your mind. You need to let it fly freely.
Taking a walk at the end of the day will help you to relax. It also helps to refresh the ideas that have been squeezed out.
In the morning, you can benefit from a boost of energy. This will wake you up and give you energy all day long so you can keep ahead.
There are many psychological benefits that come from walking. However, it’s in your hands to take advantage of them or not. What are you going to do?
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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Schultz, H., & van Etteger, R. (2016). Walking. Research in landscape architecture: Methods and methodology. Routledge, 179-193.
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Johansson, M., Hartig, T., & Staats, H. (2011). Psychological benefits of walking: Moderation by company and outdoor environment. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 3(3), 261-280.
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Olafsdottir, G., Cloke, P., Schulz, A., Van Dyck, Z., Eysteinsson, T., Thorleifsdottir, B., & Vögele, C. (2020). Health benefits of walking in nature: A randomized controlled study under conditions of real-life stress. Environment and Behavior, 52(3), 248-274.
