According to the Dalai Lama “the purpose of life is to be happy,” but without a bit of intention, our pursuit of happiness can easily get lost in the whirlwind of our day-to-day lives. Or, perhaps we’ve convinced ourselves that the path to happy requires a tremendous shift or some miraculous good fortune. Maybe we’ve told ourselves that we will be happy when ….
Yet research teaches us the key to infusing more happiness into our lives is more likely to be found in small shifts and simple choices. And, by walking. Yep, we know, it sounds too easy, but here are 9 reasons taking a walk can actually make you happier.
Walking Hacks Our Happiness Hormones: There are what we call “happiness hormones” coursing through our bodies including dopamine, our chemical reward system, serotonin, which contributes to our feelings of happiness and our sense of well-being, endorphins that can make us feel downright euphoric, and oxytocin, which drives our desire for kinship and collaboration. This cocktail of hormones gets fired up when you take a walk. Yep, more walking, more happiness hormones. Simple as that.
Walking Reduces Our Stress: Many of us are walking around in an almost constant state of stress with heightened levels of cortisol pumping inside us which can contribute to anxiety, depression, weight gain, irritability and even insomnia. But walking just 20 minutes—especially outdoors in nature—significantly reduces cortisol levels and tamps down your stress response. And less stress—that’s right—leads to more happy.
Walking Helps Us Combat Depression: Depression can become a factor in our lives at any moment, but knowing how to get the help you need is crucial. For some, seeking the advice of a doctor is necessary, but for others, lessening depression can be found with the act of walking. Though the research continues to better understand the precise mechanism by which walking helps to combat depression, researchers believe it is a likely a combination of several things: the boost in happiness hormones, the reduction in stress hormones, the long-term impact on brain health, the benefits to self-esteem, the effect of being in nature, and the positive impact on your immune system. While they don’t understand exactly how it works, the research is very clear: walking can be a powerful tool in helping to combat depression.
Walking Helps Us Process Hard Things: A worried mind and difficult situation can often be hard to work through, but walking can actually serve as a form of meditation, giving you the time and space to process your thoughts and settle your mind. It’s also a great way to have heart-to-heart conversations—and has even shown to help teenagers open up—as the increased oxygen and blood flow helps you communicate more clearly and listen more carefully. Less worry and more understanding results in, you guessed it, more happiness!
Walking Increases Our Energy: Newton’s first law of motion that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion may shed some light on why walking helps you feel more energized. The act of walking fires up your body’s circulation, bringing blood flow, oxygen and glucose to all of your muscles and organs—including your brain. The net result is more energy. In fact, one study showed that a walk is as powerful an energy booster as a shot of espresso. And more energy leads to more opportunities to get happy!
Walking Gives Us Mental Clarity: When you’re feeling like your mind is all over the place, the act of your feet hitting the ground stimulates blood flow, sending oxygen to your brain, which in turn gives you the ability to focus better. The increase in connectivity and coordination of important brain networks improves your cognitive function—your thinking skills. More focus leads to more productivity and a sense of accomplishment, which leads to a happier mood!
Walking Helps Us Sleep Better: We’ve all been around a cranky toddler who missed his nap, and we just might find ourselves behaving the same when we’re short on sleep. But walking can actually help make sure we’re getting the rest we need. Because walking helps with our mood, shutting down for the night with a calm and contented mind certainly makes it easier to fall and stay asleep. Moreover, regular walking helps our body know when it’s time to be active, and when it's time to settle in for rest. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the rise in body temperature when you walk sends a signal to our brain to decrease our body temperature later in the day, promoting sleep. Buh-bye, cranky toddler. Hello to a rested and happy you!
Walking Gives Us a Sense of Accomplishment: It feels good to give ourselves a pat on the back, and getting out for a walk and moving toward a better you gives you just the reason to do that! As human beings, we are wired to crave and love accomplishment. Completing a walk gives us a sense of satisfaction, especially when we track our walks and see those miles add up. Here’s to a happy high five!
Walking Helps Us Look for Awe: It’s easy to miss the beauty around us as we travel the same streets, see the same people, and do the same activities day after day. But if we really stop to look for the awe, we may just realize how much there is for which to be grateful. Awe has the power to both make us feel small in the grand scheme of the universe, while at the same time, helping us feel connected to something larger than ourselves. This paradox is a cornerstone of feelings of awe. People who experience awe demonstrate lower levels of stress, reduced inflammation and increased joy. They tend to be more curious, open to new ideas and engaged with others and with the world around them. Awe can decrease our attachment to material things, expand our perception of time and make life feel more satisfying.
So next time you’re looking for a boost in your mood, consider a walk. We’re pretty sure that no matter how you’re feeling when you start out, you’ll end up smiling a little bigger and feeling a whole lot happier.
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