They say a walk a day keeps the stress away… or does it?
It’s been about two weeks now since my daughter and I moved into our new home. And while I was unpacking some boxes this morning, I felt the weight of my never ending to do list start to creep up on me. It became a bit intense, so I decided to take a break from unpacking and sit down and get some rest. The rest felt good, but something still felt off as I was sitting there. To be honest – the rest turned into me scrolling on social media for five minutes. While sometimes that can be a nice way to pass time, it can also get exhausting, over-consuming so many thoughts and opinions at once.
A few minutes into my endless scrolling, my daughter peaked her head out the bedroom, to tell me she’s bored – which sparked an aha moment. If you’re a parent, then you know your children are expecting entertainment every minute that their home from summer break, especially when their six. So my aha moment consisted of me finding a way to both entertain my daughter and also restore my energy and bring some peace into my mind – so I suggested we go for a walk. With no hesitation, my daughter got dressed.
To know my daughter is to know that she LOVES dresses, and she LOVES dressing up. She also LOVES being outside – total opposite of me who can stay in the house forever as long as I have books, an internet, and food. My daughter decided to put on a beautiful green spring-like dress, and her matching handbag (which was perfect for me because I brought my phone and my keys, without thinking about where I was going to put them.) Not long after, what was supposed to be our 5 minute walk, turned into a 40 minute beautiful stroll full of laughter, bonding, nature watching, bird watching, and peace. It was something that we both needed.
It might be a stretch to say going for a walk will solve all your problems, but it can come pretty close. Research reveals the benefits walking has both on our physical health and mental health. A quick google search will tell you that all we really need is 20 minutes of walking each day, and that can help with cardiovascular health, weight management, and it can improve our mood. It can also help reduce stress and increase brainpower. It’s such a simple activity, with so many benefits, but is often overlooked. Especially with so many technology advancements, a simple walk can easily be replaced with 20 minutes of scrolling instagram or hopping into the car.
When we came back from our walk, I felt much better than I did before – and I noticed while we walked I didn’t think of my to-do list not once. I didn’t even think about it while we got back, instead I immediately thought of sharing this experience with you all (hence this blog post). My walk gave me clarity, and the clarity that I needed today was to be present and to do the best I can. It also revealed to me that I should rest when needed, and that rest can sometimes be a mental one – like a walk outside with my daughter or an ice cream date.
I hope that whoever is reading this receives a timely, and gentle, reminder to take a break – and hopefully that break is a walk. Especially if you’re a parent – there is always going to be something to do. As we get older the to-do list never ends. Make time and space for mental breaks it can help restore our peace, clarity, and give us the energy we need to sustain the day.
Take care.
For Women With Dreams 