Turn your walk into a therapy session
A daily walk is a great way to sneak in easy exercise. But it might also have some mood-boosting benefits — if you do it the right way.
Researchers had a group of older adults take one 15-minute walk a week for eight weeks. Half of the participants (the “awe” group) were then asked to focus on awe by looking at their environment like they’d never seen it before. They reported less stress than the group that didn’t.
But here’s the kicker: Researchers also asked walkers to take selfies during their trips and found something unexpected. As the weeks went on, the “awe” group’s faces took up less space in photos.
“These findings are important,” says Alan Castel, Ph.D., author of Better with Age: The Psychology of Successful Aging. The participants became less focused on themselves and more aware of their surroundings, contributing to their positivity.
You can increase your chances for awe by switching up your routine. “Walk down a block you’re unfamiliar with. Find a tree and guess what age it is,” suggests Castel. “No matter where you are, you can look up and feel awe at the clouds.”
