The Beauty of a Simple Walk

Do you ever find yourself sitting at home for hours and hours, staring at your phone, television, tablet, or computer screen? It seems hard not to, not just because of the advancement in technology today but also because of this pandemic where we find ourselves locked inside. But just because we are locked inside does not mean we should forget about what it is like to be outside.

I myself have experienced getting caught up using my electronics, often feeling too lazy, tired, or reluctant to go outside and get a breath of fresh air. A few months into the pandemic, I started to realize just sitting inside like I had been doing was not only bad for my physical health, but my mental health as well.

So one day, I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood at about noon. My first reaction was, “Wow.” I no longer felt like I was in a stuffy environment, especially with the air conditioner always being on inside. The air was so refreshing. I then turned to look up at the bright blue sky and the white, puffy clouds. When I’m staring at screens all day, and then I go outside and look at the sky, my eyes feel a little different. It is a hard sensation to explain, but it may just be my eyes finally relaxing after all the strain that comes from looking at electronics.

As I started walking along the sidewalk, past other houses, I noticed how nice it felt to feel the warmth of the sunlight reach my skin. The sun is something you definitely miss when you’re inside, and I learned that it is actually very important for our body since it is one of the few sources of Vitamin D. The more I walked, the more I felt like continuing instead of going back home. I ended up walking for a whole hour that day.

Ever since then, I have been going for a walk everyday around midday for about half an hour. It has made a noticeable difference in my mood, and I even think I am sleeping better because of it. It has also been an opportunity to get my body moving. It may feel difficult for some people to get off the chair and go outside, but it may truly just make a difference for your overall well-being.

--BitterSweet Coaching Guest Writer