The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is movement. Movement is important for our mental health, be it going for a walk, dancing around our living room or doing chair-based exercises. It all counts! But did you know that the benefits of moving can be even greater if we do it outdoors? Here are a few reasons why.
* Rhythmic exercise, essentially anything focused on a repetitive movement – for example, running – can have a calming effect and help reduce blood pressure, increase heart rate and reduce levels of our stress hormone, cortisol.
* Walking can help improve the quality of our sleep by improving our mood as well as our immune system.
* Whatever your age, those who spend more time outside have higher levels of self-esteem and report being able to cope better with the stresses of life.
* Having nice scenery to look at, while we are moving, can distract us from negative thought patterns.
* Those who spend over two hours and up to five hours outside, report consistently higher health and wellbeing levels.
* Vitamin D, absorbed from the sun, is imperative for healthy bones, a strong immune system and helping to boost our mood.
There are many ways we can help to increase our movement each day – and they don’t require too much time or extra effort. However, when we’re struggling with mental illness, motivating ourselves to move more can be a challenge. We might feel lethargic and tired. Getting out into the fresh air might also feel a step too far. If this resonates for you, be reassured you are not alone.
One of the ways to increase your motivation to move more is by doing exercise or walking with other people. Jami’s Head Room café holds regular walking groups to support you to get this kind of activity into your routine. If you use Jami’s hubs, are you taking advantage of all the activities that involve movement that we have to offer? This is another great way to increase our activity.
Other simple ways to try and get us to move more might be:
* Getting off the bus or train a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way
* Taking the stairs instead of the lift when you go to work, medical appointments or are travelling on the underground
* Walking to your local shops rather than taking the car
* Going for a walk with a friend instead of meeting up for a coffee
* Doing simple stretching exercises or marching on the spot while you’re watching TV
Incorporating some kind of exercise into our daily lives can really make a huge difference to how we feel. So, whether you fancy joining a gym, signing up for a martial arts class, becoming a member of a tennis or other sports club, getting a dog that you can take for a walk (or borrowing a friend’s dog), or doing any other activity that keeps you active, in the words of one of the largest and best recognised global sports and athleticwear brands, ‘Just Do It’. And, also make sure you connect with others to get out and about more too.
Join Jami in a series of free events to get you moving, or thinking about the benefits of movement, during Mental Health Awareness Week (13–19 May).
For more information, visit jamiuk.org/mhaw
If you need support or are supporting someone who needs help, visit jamiuk.org/get-support/ or contact 020 8458 2223.
