Firstly, both of these activities are important in their own right for so many reasons. Combined together they can have so many benefits for our physical, emotional and mental health such as:
• Reduces stress
• Improves mood and self esteem
• Increases life satisfaction
• Walking or running outside can reduce feelings of anger, fatigue and sadness
• Being mindful in nature by using all of our 5 senses can increase our self compassion and empathy
• Produces creative solutions
• Makes us aware that we are all part of something significant
• Provides connection to the living world and those around us
Steve and I talk about making self-care a priority and one of our non-negotiables is to get outside for a walk each day. We really do notice the difference if we don’t do it. We feel all of the benefits described above and it only needs to be a 10 or 20 minute walk to start feeling the value of walking and talking.
Changing your environment, instantly changes your mindset. Whatever is on your mind may come into focus, give you more clarity or just reduce the strong emotions you may be feeling. This happens whether you walk or talk so combining them both gives you an extra boost.
We don’t just go for walks for ourselves, we take our clients with us too.
Our coaching programmes are delivered online, face to face, maybe a walk to a waterfall or round the Great Orme, at the beach or having a picnic – we got a lot more creative during lockdown!
The breakthroughs, ideas and creative solutions that take place for our clients by being outside and talking really does give a perspective that may not have emerged in a different environment.
Try and include Walking and Talking into your lives, it’s available to us all.
If you’re at work, maybe arrange walking meetings whether you’re physically together or on the phone – it can help with the fatigue of video meetings taking place at the moment.
And at home, schedule some time into your day to go for a walk, even for 10 minutes and have a chat with a friend or family member.
It really does make you feel more positive and reframe your thoughts.
#wilsonspirit #wellbeing #walkingandtalking #coaching #mindset #selfcare #benefitsofwalkingandtalking