Credits: Social Media
7 ways a daily walk can boost your mental health when working from home
When working from home, it can be incredibly difficult to muster up the motivation to leave the house, especially during the cold winter months when the weather might not be at its best, but the importance of a daily walk cannot be overstated as there are several benefits to adding some exercise to our routines for both our mental and physical health.
According to Dr Becky Spelman, a psychologist and clinical director at Private Therapy Clinic, who spoke to Stylist in a 2023 interview, even a brief,�brisk walk�can be enough to boost someones energy and set them up for the day ahead.
1. It can mimic a commute
If you struggle to separate your professional and personal lives due to working from home, going for a walk before you start or after you finish can be a great way of helping you to divide your day between the two.
For workers who may be used to the typical morning commute, adding a walk to your routine before you start work can help to mimic the commute and get you in the headspace to start work rather than simply rolling out of bed and sitting straight down at your desk.
2. Increases focus
According to a study by Harvard Medical School, getting the blood pumping with aerobic exercise such as a brisk 20-30 minute walk has been found to increase reaction time and sharpen the brains ability to make decisions and may help to blow away any of the proverbial cobwebs at the start of the day or as you begin the afternoon.
3. Boosts energy
As well as helping you to focus, a brief stroll outdoors can also boost your energy if youve woken up feeling tired or are starting to feel the onset of the afternoon slump.
A study conducted by the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that people who spent a period of time exercising outdoors in nature felt greater vitality than those who remained indoors.
4. Lifts mood
Not only does walking help boost your energy but it can also lift your mood too, perfect for if you need to banish those Monday morning blues.
Speaking to Stylist, Dr Becky Spelman said: Exercising influences the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin which are the feel-good neurotransmitters, so this makes us feel better and really lifts our mood.
5. Increases mindfulness
Spending less time on your phone or watching TV is often recommended by health experts and replacing time using those devices with a daily walk can help to promote a more mindful approach to our days by giving us a few minutes to go over our thoughts and re-focus before starting work for the whole day or the afternoon.
Going for a walk in the morning before work is an opportunity for us to be very mindful in the present moment, said Dr Spelman. Which really sets us up for the day.
6. Helps manage seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder is a common problem during the winter months or for those who spend a great deal of their time stuck indoors when working from home, with the main cause being due to not getting enough daylight according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Getting outside for a walk during the day can give your body the daylight it needs. Even if the weather isnt the best, heading out on a cloudy or drizzly day will help to give you the light needed to lift your mood more than remaining inside in a dimly lit room.
7. Improves quality of sleep
And finally, a daily walk can also provide benefits once youve finished for the day as well and youre ready to hit the hay in the evening.
A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that people who exercised more had a higher quality of sleep, with fewer nighttime disturbances, than those who were less active during the day.
