The theme for 2024’s Mental Health Awareness Week is moving more for mental health. Yellow Tree associate and “walkshop” coach Anise Bullimore shares 5 reasons why it’s good to walk.

You can join us for a mindful walk as part of one of our programmes, or as a standalone group event or as a 121-coaching session. And you can take part from wherever you are, you just need your phones, some headphones and somewhere to walk!

Find out more or book a coaching or mindfulness “walkshop” for your people.

1. Walking gives you a natural high.

Neurotransmitters are released when you exercise – including endorphins. This makes you feel good which could ease feelings of anxiety or depression. You’ll need to walk for about 20 minutes to get this effect.

2. Walking moves stress out of the body.

Stress affects the body. Even when whatever caused the stress has passed, the actual stress stays in the body. When we walk or exercise, we complete the stress cycle by moving stress out of the body.

3. Walking helps you sleep.

Walking outside gives us exposure to sunlight, even on a cloudy day. This affects our circadian rhythm and helps us sleep better. A morning walk works best for this.

4. Walking helps you think clearly.

Walking has been proven to improve how we think. It gives us a different perspective and new ideas. When we walk, we think more creatively and openly, so we can stop feeling stuck and come up with solutions to problems.

5. Walking helps us talk things through.

Talking about how we feel and what we need is essential for our mental health. Walking helps us to be more open and relaxed, which is ideal for good conversations. Also, when we walk together we are side-by-side, so we feel that we are facing any problems together.