Relieve Stress With Walking

If you’re like 80% of Americans, the sluggish economy has you sweating bullets. According to the American Psychological Association, 8 out of 10 Americans are downright harried about their personal finances and job outlook. Combine that with obligations that seem to kidnap every tick of the clock, and it’s no wonder counseling services as well as anxiety/antidepressant prescriptions are on the rise.

But there’s a better way to manage stress. Although exercise might seem like another time thief, it’s your body’s most natural response to tyrants of tension. As you face monetary and career concerns, family demands, and a congested schedule, biological signals trigger fight-or-flight instincts — telling your body to actively react to your situation. But since you can’t sprint down the office corridor every time the market plummets or karate-chop the water cooler if your company starts downsizing, your body deposits that energy back onto itself — in the form of physiological steam waiting to erupt.

In fact, 77% of US citizens report stress-induced symptoms like:

Upset stomachs
Headaches
Teeth-grinding
Tightness, painful muscles
Insomnia
Depression
Irritability.

A frazzled psyche also produces an abundance of the hormone cortisol — which hampers immune response, causes weight gain, and increases blood pressure, pulse rate, and deadly inflammation.

A Smart Move

Physical activity helps release unbridled angst by serving as an outlet for pressure. It also relaxes kinked muscles, increases nutrient circulation to the brain, and pours out endorphins — which help balance negative chemical surges with positive feelings of contentment. Some studies even suggest that fit individuals handle long-term stress better than their sedentary counterparts, which means you’re combating your current worries… and preparing yourself to fend off future ones. Certain exercises, like walking, create an opportunity for you to purge some of the consuming mental clutter, too — opening the door to problem-solving, creative inspiration, and critical thinking.

It’s time to take walking off your back burner of burdens and make it a priority for relieving your anxious mind:

Walk it off. If stress begins buzzing about, smack it away with a quick stroll. Even 10-minute increments can help redirect volcanic build-up. Responding with a quick jaunt also establishes a new habit — one that’s healthier than visiting the vending machine for comfort food. If you program yourself to be active when faced with stress, you’ll learn to call on exercise as your number 1 coping method.

Change your thinking. Give up the attitude that suggests exercise is either an expendable luxury or a disposable demand. Rework your walking routine to be a constant tap on your shoulder — one that invites you to take the long way to your desk, park on the other side of the lot, or mosey with your child to school. If you view every extra step throughout the day as a checkmark on your list of accomplishments, walking will feel less like a burden and more like a tool for empowerment.

Share the wealth. You’re not the only one biting your fingernails and losing sleep. Chances are your coworkers, friends, and family are all battling a case of the worries. Get moving with a companion and you’ll not only introduce an accountability factor, you’ll help someone else shake off the shackles of stress. Plus, walking with a partner gives you a chunk of time for conversation… so at the very least you can commiserate and share solutions.