Mental Health Walk

Sometimes when the weather is gloomy, the skies are grey and the breeze is getting gustier, it can be tricky to grab the boots and go for a walk. Even though I know I’ll enjoy it it can be difficult to get moving, however that was not the case on Friday. Last week had been one of those weeks where there seemed to be a lot going on most of which I had little or no control over. So by Friday afternoon I decided it was time to take back control, switch off the laptop a little earlier than usual and squeeze in a walk. Partly for the mental health benefits and partly because I was curious to see if our park had any crocuses yet. So I grabbed my boots, caring not a jot about the weather.

It seems I’m not the only one who sometimes needs, rather than just wants, to go for a walk. Earlier in the week I’d been on the train heading home and I overheard a group of students as they were getting on board. One of them stated: “I ended up going on a mental health walk” and I was heartened to hear this for a couple of reasons. First and foremost the fact that walking was her chosen remedy was pleasing to hear but more than that it was the matter of fact why in which she mentioned it. There was no hint of embarrassment nor did it sound like she was looking for sympathy. It was mentioned in an off-hand way akin to saying you were popping to the shops or heading to the gym.

I was also impressed by the level of self-awareness, realising that actually rather than just keeping her head down and carrying on what she really needed to do was to press pause and take some time for herself, to take a mental health walk. When I was a student I’m sure there were times when I felt the urge to go for a walk but I’m not sure I would have been aware enough to realise that it was a mental health walk. This simple overheard snippet of conversation was a useful insight into why it’s so important for people to be more open about how they maintain their mental as well as their physical health. In the past mental health was only discussed when someone reached breaking point, but hopefully by talking about our day-to-day methods for improving our moods will help others acknowledge their feelings before they become overwhelming. Hopefully in the future everyone will talk about taking a mental health walk in the same casual, everyday manner that I overheard on the train.

Anyway back to my own mental health walk, it was just the tonic I needed. It’s surprising how quickly you go from mulling over what the week has brought you to being delighted & distracted by your immediate surroundings. Saying hello to a cheeky little squirrel, wondering if you’ll be able to get a picture of him before he scurries away. Looking out for spring flowers spotting a little snowdrop, no crocuses or daffodils yet but there’s another prettty little flower, I wonder what that ones called? That sounds like a Robin, how can something so small be so loud? Although now the sky is full of the sound of crows.

I know crows are often regarded as an ominous sign of foreboding thanks to Edgar Allen Poe and the Norse god Odin however I like being in the park when the crows are circling. I certainly prefer hearing their caws filling the air then listening to a crowd of people. I also find it fascinating the way that all at once they take off and settle somewhere else, presumably that’s what they’ve been chattering about – where are we off to next lads? But to an outsider it looks like they instnctively all know exacly when to leave and in which direction. Mind you my sense of direction is limited so I’m always impressed when anyone, animals or people, knows which way to go!

This wasn’t meant to be a post about crows but I guess this neatly proves my point. Just as this post started off talking about the need for a walk and has ended up becoming an ode to nature, the walk itself had the same effect. By switching off the computer and switching on to nature, I came home relaxed, refreshed and ready to embrace the weekend.

That’s how I stroll.