Does a walk really make you feel better? I find it bollocks.

[YardleyX]

“Go for a walk....It’ll make you feel better.”

Jesus. If I hear that one more time!!

Up at 5am. Working 40+ hours a week. Home-schooling. Providing nutritious meals and clean clothes. Shopping for relatives. It is never-ending.

But apparently, if I manage to find just ANOTHER half hour in the day to get out for a walk (as well as the extra half hour to cajole DCs into going out and dressing in full winter gear), I will feel better.

Well I can tell you, I have tried it. Several times now. And it doesn’t work.

Biggest lie of the pandemic 😬

Yeah it doesn’t do much for me, tbh.

Works for me, though.
you'll have to find something else -- hope you find it soon.

Going out for a walk with young children rarely makes me feel better!

Walking on my own with headphones in or just listening to quiet, birds etc makes me feel fantastic.

Yea I love walking round in the freezing pissing down rain with whiny kids knowing that I have a million other things to do at home. Makes me feel like a new woman! (Note sarcasm)

Yesterday totally not, I had no time or energy for walking, what I needed was sleep. Today, yeah a walked helped. You are absolutely right a walk isn't always the answer.

Agree with you! A walk is not the panacea for me. Just more stress. I do think it might be because I’m in the city. I wouldn’t mind a long walk on the beach. But here - not tempting.

I always feel better after a walk. Always have walked everyday even before Covid.

Nature makes me feel calmer and more able to cope. When I'm stressed I stride up the canal path to a certain point until I am out of breath and my heart is pumping. I then do the rest of my walk at a pace that allows me to notice birds, changes in the trees etc. And by then time I get home I'm usually feeling much better

Not this time of year, no. Just freeze my tits off or get soaked. Not exactly filling me with joy. Am bored, bored, bored of walks...

@itchyfinger

Yea I love walking round in the freezing pissing down rain with whiny kids knowing that I have a million other things to do at home. Makes me feel like a new woman! (Note sarcasm)

Agreed!

No. I have two ruptured discs that impinge on my sciatic nerve and the one next to it. Prolonged standing / walking leaves me in agony for days.

Walks without children are relaxing and uplifting, with them, not so much.

Oh I’ve been loving a walk. Working from home feeling cooped up all day I love nipping out for 10-15 minutes at lunch time for a quick power walk usually listening to a podcast. If I was having to do that with young DC though then I’d probably rather stay home

Well you can walk for miles at our beach, but in this freezing , bollocking cold
No , it doesn’t make me feel better
It just highlights the fact that there’s no warm , cosy caff at the end of it!
Because it’s all bollox

I'm not a fan of a walk. I like running though. I am fully aware that that makes no sense.

Op have you tried craft, yoga, jigsaws...sounds like you could use something soothing and mindless.

With children a walk is exhausting. On your own with music to listen to, or without another adult to have a chat with, it's great.

How much do you walk though? I walk on average 45 minutes per day 5 times a week and I have to say it makes me feel and look great.

Yes, pretty much every time. I live in a beautiful location however, I could see how walking around a housing estate might not do it! I have mountains river and woods out my front door and walking in them never fails to make me feel better. It's better going with my 4 year old to be honest.

Walking on my own with headphones in or just listening to quiet, birds etc makes me feel fantastic.

This ☝️

Works for me in so far as I don’t feel guilty for not going for a walk/getting the kids out.... 😂

Urgh no, what did I just type??? Its better going WITHOUT my 4 year old. I am not so starved for company that I prefer a walk with him. Not yet

Summer walks are good, even winter walks out in the countryside although very muddy atm. But my daily walk is a 30 min loop of the same pavements I've been walking for 10 months. I only do it because I have the time, I can't do any exercise I normally do, and I liven it up listening to podcasts.

It doesn't do much for me either. Loads of countryside here, and lovely walks down the canal. I don't like wearing headphones because I want to hear if there's a hazard etc.
Without headphones I just think about everything over and over and all the things I should be doing rather than going for a walk.

You have to do it for the right time frame and in the right place. It's proven to release the happy hormones and lower blood pressure even more so if your bare feet touch the grass.

I do 30-40 mins under a winters sky and feel thoroughly refreshed. Other times it doesn't work and sometimes you just don't notice it. I think it's more the fact that I'm away from work or family for a short time.

@itchyfinger

Yea I love walking round in the freezing pissing down rain with whiny kids knowing that I have a million other things to do at home. Makes me feel like a new woman! (Note sarcasm)

YUP.

Actually I could live with the weather. It’s the kids and lack of time that are killing me!!

A run does for me, ideally I need to get my heart rate up for at least 30 mins. Then I feel a new person - it's the focusing on the rhythm of running and not stopping that drives all the stress from my head.