Feeling down?
You might just need a prescription for walking
Imagine there was a prescription your doctor could give you that would boost your mood.
Now, instead of imagining a prescription, picture a pair of sneakers. Imagine putting them on and going for a brisk walk around your neighbourhood. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t even have to be particularly fast, but once you get back home again, chances are you’re going to feel a whole lot better.
This is the magic of walking.
Get a physical, emotional and social wellbeing boost
Like many people, you might think of walking as a way of delivering positive benefits to your physical health, and it can! Regular walking can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, help you manage your weight and blood pressure, and help you maintain bone density, to name a few[1].
But walking can also do wonders for your emotional wellbeing. Research shows that people who engage in regular exercise tend to have better mental health.
“Physical activity has been shown to improve mental health symptoms both in those with and without mental illness,” says Dr Oscar Lederman, a senior accredited exercise physiologist and a researcher in the University of Technology Sydney’s School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation.
What’s more, walking presents an excellent opportunity to enhance social health, which is the wellbeing we experience as a result of our relationships with others. By walking with friends, neighbours or with a walking group, you can transform a regular walk into an opportunity to connect with the people around you.
“Symptoms like depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, as well as cognitive symptoms like memory and retention, can improve with even small improvements in activity.”
All exercise is good exercise — including walking
One of the challenges of starting an exercise habit is that it can feel like a big commitment, particularly if it’s been a while since you’ve been active. This is where walking shines: you can set your pace, choose your distance and build a walking habit over time.
“Walking, even at a low-intensity level, can significantly benefit mental health, and research strongly supports this. Studies show that small increases in physical activity, can have both immediate and long-term benefits,” says Dr Lederman.
The good news? If you’re ready to get walking, Heart Foundation can help. Heart Foundation Walking is one of Australia’s largest free walking programs, with over 350,000 registered walkers and more than 700 walking groups across the country. No matter your location, age or fitness level, you can find a Heart Foundation Walking group near you.
If you’d prefer to walk on your own schedule, you can sign up for a free Personal Walking Plan that’s been developed by exercise and behaviour change experts and tailored to your current level of activity.
Read more about Heart Foundation Walking, explore walking groups near you, and take the first step towards building a regular walking habit.
