What the Science Says
Exercise is increasingly being utilised in the treatment of depression and anxiety due to its numerous mental health benefits. Studies have shown that someone’s mood often improves after doing exercise, due to neurotransmitters such as endorphins, endocannabinoids, and dopamine being released and positively impacting the body.
Whilst some people do not attribute the same exercise benefits to walking as they may to higher intensity sports, even lower paced physical activity can offset the body’s stress response associated with anxiety. According to the Mental Health Foundation, just 10 minutes of brisk walking increases both alertness and mood. These assertions are reiterated by Sport in Mind, the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales, with over 90% of surveyed participants showing improved levels of wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence, as well as over 80% exhibiting reduced symptoms of depression, and levels of stress and anxiety.
The benefits to everyone within society should not be underestimated. To some, exercise is something to be engaged with when your body is in its peak physical form, however continuing regular exercise as we get older is vital. At its most basic, it helps people use all different parts of their bodies as our daily activities slow down. However, it has also been proven to delay the onset of dementia and cognitive decline in some older people.
How Walking Brings People Together
The social impact of walking is something that naturally aligns with the benefits of football. Walking is innately sociable, as it forces you to leave the comfort of your home. When walking alone, you come into contact with others within your local community that can lead to social interaction. Walking as a group or simply with one other person unlocks a host of positive benefits, helping people to foster friendships whilst promoting a more relaxed type of conversation. All this can help to tackle loneliness, something which can have an extreme impact on our mental health. The sense of community which can be fostered by engaging in both football and social walking is paramount to everything Walk92 aims to achieve.
Walking is a form of exercise that is accessible to people of all ages. As a low impact sport, it allows every generation to engage in physical activity together. It enables people to set goals specific to their own abilities, and it is an activity that requires little preparation, equipment and money, while reaping huge benefits, regardless of the distance or time involved. This level of unparalleled accessibility creates a uniquely inclusive form of exercise. This is why Walk92 is looking to combine the love of football with the inclusivity of walking to create an unforgettable experience.
The Restorative Power of Light and Landscape
In this regard, walking offers access to both nature and sunlight, two things which are proven to improve mental health. According to the UK’s Mind’s 2021 ‘Nature and Mental Health’ report, spending time in nature can improve mood, reduce feelings of stress and anger, improve confidence and self-esteem, and reduce loneliness. There is also extensive research to show that spending time in the sun generates a wealth of positive mental health benefits. Sunlight can increase the production of serotonin in our bodies, another ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter, and can help regulate our stress hormones. It also helps regulate melatonin, our sleep hormone.
Strolling off to Sleep
Good sleep is something we can all struggle with and can drastically impact your ability to function day to day and to cope with the trials and tribulations of life. The NHS, Sleep Foundation and numerous academics are in firm agreement that regular exercise can improve quality of sleep for many people by decreasing sleep onset (the time it takes to fall asleep) and regulating the body’s circadian rhythm (internal clock/sleep-wake cycle).
The beauty of the challenge being undertaken by those involved in Walk92 is that everyone can contribute, walking a distance that suits you and raising funds for a cause close to your heart. If you want to join a community walk like no other, see how you can get involved here.