They say big ideas can hardly be conceived in small spaces. With this sentiment in mind, as a fresh unemployed graduate with no monetary prospects, I made it my goal to take daily, one-hour-long, morning walks.
Every day I’d wake up, head forth into the cold, and set out on my hiking trail. The hikes were grueling at first, I’d huff and puff my couch potato self, unsure why I’d chosen this, of all activities, for an undertaking. But two consistent weeks later, my walks had become a prerequisite for a good day.
Physically, I loved the triumphant soreness emerging from my legs. I’d grown fond of my hiking trail; a vast coffee plantation where I could be alone with my thoughts, hopes, and dreams. What surprised me even more, however, was the mental clarity that came with moving my body. It’s all about the mind-body connection. The pessimistic and myopic unemployed graduate vanished and instead, I learned to look at the bigger picture. As corny as it sounds, I came to believe that my future was as vast as the views I set out to catch and that the agony of job hunting and moving back to your childhood home in adulthood, was only momentary. That it would soon come to pass, as does the agony of mounting a steep hill.
Impact on mental health.
Research shows that even a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking increases our mental alertness, energy, and positive mood and that participating in regular physical activity can increase our self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.
Helpful Tips To Get a Move on
1. Make Time
I had the privilege of taking a long hour hike, but this might not be the case for some. Moving for as little as 5 minutes can have such a great impact. There are creative ways to incorporate movement in a short amount of time, for example;
- Take a lap as your food warms in the microwave.
- Move around while waiting for documents to print.
- Take a phone call while walking.
2. Start Slowly
This is for those new to physical activity, you don’t want to injure or burn yourself out before forming a habit. Focus on improving your stamina, rather than making it a competition.
3. Make it part of your life
The key to succeeding in anything is consistency.
Make small gradual changes in your life, incorporating different forms of movement in your day-to-day, monitor progress, and adjust.
4. Make movement enjoyable
The idea of just moving around without stimulus can be daunting, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Invite your friends and family to one of your walks, listen to some music, or enjoy a favorite podcast or audiobook. Incorporating some form of entertainment also makes physical activity less arduous.
This mental health awareness month, we encourage you to move more and move intentionally. Move more, at your desk, in your car, at work, in school, and all other areas of your life.
