The restorative power of an evening walk
May sees the return of National Walking Month. As the days get longer, it's the perfect time to take yourself on an evening walk.
Living Streets’ Rowan Dent tells us how an evening stroll (and Try 20 tip number 14) can help clear your mind of troublesome thoughts and support your body to relax and unwind.
Whether you’re working in an office or caring for kids or family members, it’s easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed at the end of the day. Here are Rowan's top tips for a relaxing and restorative evening walk.
Head out with a friend
Swap the busy pub for a walk in your local park or green space with a friend or family member. Together you can shrug off the day and put the world to rights, in the quiet and calm of evening.
I often go for evening walks with a friend who lives nearby. We bring flasks of tea or sometimes a bottle of wine and chat about our day. I always come home feeling relaxed and a bit sleepy.
Take your dog for a walk
Going out for a walk is an important part of your dog's day – and keeps you fit too! Most dogs need at least 20-30 minutes of walking on a daily basis, although this depends on their breed and age.
A dog walk can help you practise mindfulness and take advantage of the benefits of being outdoors, plus it can strengthen the bond between you and your pooch. It’s also a great way to get chatting to fellow dog owners and helps your dog get used to other dogs and people.
If you don’t have a dog, why not ask a friend or family if you can borrow theirs?
“I often go for evening walks with a friend who lives nearby. We bring flasks of tea or sometimes a bottle of wine and chat about our day. I always come home feeling relaxed and a bit sleepy.” – Rowan Dent
Experience sensory delights
There are some experiences you only discover if you’re there at the right place, and right time. Golden hour, the last hour of light before sunset, is well-known for making even the most ordinary streets glow. There’s something unique about an evening stroll, whether you snap a stunning sunset, smell the banks of spring flowers and see the twinkle of stars as they emerge one by one.
Move your body
It’s far too easy to spend the working day sitting at our desks, and then watch TV or scroll on our phones all evening. And we all know that being sedentary for long periods isn’t good for our mental or physical health.
The good news is that research has found that walking before your bedtime aids good quality sleep. A regular evening walk helps reduce stress and anxiety, which are commonly associated with sleep issues, such as insomnia.
You're also relaxing your muscles and improving blood flow, which makes it easier for your body to slip into a restful state. These benefits can last up to six hours after you finish walking!
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Living Streets