Ah, the elusive quest for happiness. We are all on it. But, as Professor Laurie Santos has explained in the Happiness Lab Podcast, the things that we think will make us happy often don’t.
There’s one thing we do know: Walking makes you happier. Here are nine reasons why.
Walking Fires Up Your Happiness Hormones. Walking delivers critical bursts of happiness hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin which we all need coursing through our bodies, especially now.
Being in Nature Improves Your Mood. Simply being in nature makes us happier. As reported by Berkeley’s Great Good Magazine, research shows that being in nature has a “profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding, and stress, and increase our attention capacity, creativity, and ability to connect with other people.”
Walking Enables You To See Something New. We are spending a whole lotta time staring at the same four walls these days. Getting out the door and seeing the world at a walking pace gives you the chance to notice and appreciate things you might otherwise miss: the changing of the seasons, the song of a bird, the feel of the breeze. And, as 99 Walks Pack Leader Joyce often says, “some days, you just have to wake up and see something different.”
You’ll Feel Like You’ve Accomplished Something. As human beings, we are wired to crave and love accomplishment. Completing a walk gives you a sense of satisfaction, especially when you track your walks and see those miles add up.
Walking Boosts Your Mood and Fights Depression. As reported by Harvard Medical School, the evidence continues to mount that exercise, including walking, is a powerful tool to help combat depression.
Walking Boosts Oxygen to Your Brain. Researchers at New Mexico Highlands University found that the foot's impact during walking increases the supply of blood to the brain and speculate that this may “optimize brain perfusion, function, and overall sense of wellbeing during exercise."
Walking Increases Your Energy. Ever notice that, even if you start out feeling tired, you end a walk with more energy than you started? You’re right. In fact, a study from the University of Georgia showed that “sedentary people who regularly complain of fatigue can increase their energy levels by 20 percent and decrease their fatigue by 65 percent by engaging in regular, low intensity exercise.”
Walking Helps You Process Thoughts and Emotions. A friend once told me that she walks every day as a way to “untangle her thoughts.” She’s right. Walking can be a form of moving meditation, giving you the time and space to process your thoughts and settle your mind.
Better Sleep. A fascinating study reported in Psychology Today showed that for women who already slept about 7 hours per night, adding a mile of walking a day led to “significantly better sleep.” And we all know that better quality sleep means more happiness.