Inspiration for winter lockdown walks

Walking is a great, simple way to improve both your physical and mental health during lockdown. Some of the benefits include: stress relief, a stronger immune system, better sleep, clearer thinking, muscle toning, weight management and mood stabilisation.

A wonderful article in the Guardian lists several ways to “give purpose to your daily walk”:

1 Set simple time goals

To keep you motivated on chilly, wet days, say to yourself that you will go out for 5 minutes, instead of 30 minutes, as there will be less resistance from your brain to do this. Once you are out, you may find that you will spontaneously continue for a longer time.

2 Take an Interactive “sound walk”

Try the Echoes interactive sound walks app that is an audio walk created by authors, artists and musicians from around the world, allowing you to explore what’s nearby and listen to tours.

3 Mindful walking

Alex Strauss, the author of the Mindful Walker, explains that being mindful just means to “be present, focused and aware of your internal and external landscapes at any given moment. Mindfulness can slow our heart rate, and reduce anxiety and depression”. She recommends to “drop into mindfulness” while walking by listening to your footsteps, and then breathe in for four steps steps, hold for four steps, and then breathe out for four steps. This will help to ease the jumble of thoughts that could be racing in your mind, bringing a sense of peace.

4 Solve a problem

In her book, In Praise of Walking, Shane O’Mara, a neuroscientist, describes how there are many ways that walking sharpens the mind and encourages creativity.As we walk, our brain makes theta brain waves (the brain frequencies where the mind is capable of deep and profound learning, healing and growth), which creates a perfect state during which to plan your next work meeting, find a solution to tricky issues at home, plan out your upcoming essay or come up with an interesting way to fix-up your bedroom.

5 Raise money for Charity

Choose a charity by using justgiving.co.uk or uk.virginamoneygiving.com and register a walking challenge with them.

I hope that this article will encourage you to enjoy a daily walk!