Esker Fields offers a complementary combination of nurturing wellbeing and nourishing body and skincare. Bringing wellness practices into our everyday routine is the best way to keep up with them and stay on top of stress. Having a mindful moment during my morning shower or as I apply my moisturising balm is a release and reset I can fit in whatever is on my plate.
Another way I bring wellbeing into my daily routine is going for a walk. Almost every day for months now, I’ve gone on a walk. It makes such a difference and here’s why.
Why I go on daily walks
Feel fitter
I first committed to going on daily walks as part of a weight loss challenge. That’s why I usually go on longer walks for about an hour a day. But just 5-10 minutes if that’s all the time you have still makes a world of difference. I can definitely say I feel fitter when I keep up with daily walks. There’s more energy and confidence in my movements. Talking of physical changes, I find my skin feels better too!
Clear my head
You don’t need me to tell you that life can be really overwhelming. Sometimes it feels like everyone needs something from us. Or we’re going around in circles and don’t know how to move forward. All the stress boils over and we wonder what’s the point? In those moments, going for a walk clears my head and allows me to see my situation from a fresh perspective. I can go back to what was overwhelming me and figure it out.
Walk away and then come back to it – literally!
Take a break
I most often need to clear my head when I’ve been dealing with technology. We just don’t seem to get on! Whether you love it or hate it, having some time away from screens is good for us. On walks, it’s not just the screens you’re getting away from but also home, work and all your responsibilities. It’s a time for you to just be. The physical change of environment is a great circuit breaker for stress.
Check in with myself
Often my walks are the only time in the day I have for myself – it’s just me, myself and I. So it’s during my walks that I check in with myself and work on my relationship with me. I touch base with my body and bring awareness to how I feel. This is usually when I pick up on the negative thought patterns that are only making things worse and change my mindset from one of self-criticism to one of compassion (which I so readily give to others!)
Calms the brain
Having so enjoyed my daily walks and experienced the difference they make to my wellbeing, I was very excited to find that there’s neuroscience behind mindful walks.
Two important things happen when we go for a walk. The first is that our eyes move from side to side as we survey our changing surroundings. This is called lateral eye movement. The second thing is that our arms and legs coordinate in an alternating, rhythmic motion. This is known as bilateral movement. Both of these things have a wonderful effect on the brain.
Lateral eye movement stimulates the amygdala, which is involved in the processing of emotions, to release calming neurotransmitters. Bilateral movement involves both hemispheres of the brain. That’s a good thing because it improves communication between both sides and boosts the brain’s self-regulatory centres which helps reduce negative thoughts and feelings.
I thought the simple yet rhythmic action of walking was good for me and this proves it!
Top tips for making mindful walking a habit
Go in the morning
I’m much better at keeping up with daily walks when I go in the morning. By the time it gets to the afternoon, I’m coming up with excuses of “I’ve just got to finish this” and before I know it, it’s bedtime! It’s also a great way to start your day. Clear your head, make a mental agenda and get into a calm headspace.
Integrate it into your day
That being said, you have to make it work for you. Think about the routine you’re already in and when it would make sense to go for a walk so it doesn’t feel too out of your way. Back in my old job, I would drop the boys off at school and have about 20 minutes before I needed to start work. Instead of just going into work early, I’d walk around town. Now, I often go for a walk when I take one of the boys to football practice. I’m already out there, I might as well.
Track your progress
If you like to gameify things, this is a great tip! On your phone, you can track how far you’ve walked and how long it’s taken you. Sometimes I like to challenge myself to get more distance under my belt in the hour I set aside for my walk. See how far you can get in whatever time you have for your walk.
Be kind to yourself
As with all wellbeing practices, don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s not meant to put more pressure and stress on you. It’s meant to be a regular release in the rush of the everyday. Something is always better than nothing. So even if you just take 5 minutes to walk up the road, that’s good enough. Not every walk will be your longest, fastest or best walk and everyone misses days.
Listen to something
To help motivate myself to go on walks and truly switch off, I started listening to podcasts. The audio isn’t going to get in the way of that all-important lateral eye movement and bilateral body movement. It adds to the calming experience. So, I’ve recorded some audios of my own for you…
Join Mindful Walking in May for daily email reminders and audios I’ve recorded about different essential oils. They’re only a few minutes long so you can still enjoy them even if you don’t have a lot of time. Switch off and learn something new about wellbeing while you’re on your daily walk.
It’s not too late to get involved! Sign up for Mindful Walking in May to start receiving emails in the morning.
How could you make walking part of your self-care routine?