Wear green and get walking for mental health
Walking offers the physical benefits of exercise while also boosting your emotional well-being. Walking regularly can help ease symptoms related to chronic mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
You can walk anywhere without equipment or a special membership. The more you do it, the more positive effects you will experience.
There are numerous benefits of walking. Some of the most common include:
- Improved sleep
- Better endurance
- Stress relief
- Improvement in mood
- Increased energy and stamina
- Reduced tiredness that can increase mental alertness
- Weight loss
- Reduced cholesterol and improved cardiovascular (heart) health
Walking also helps boost your mood because it increases blood flow and blood circulation to the brain and body. It has a positive influence on your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is your central nervous response system. This is good because the HPA axis is responsible for your stress response. When you exercise by walking, you calm your nerves, which can make you feel less stressed.
You can build on the positive effects of walking by inviting friends to join you. Walking with others for one or two days per week can have enormous benefits. Physical exercise combined with positive social interactions can improve negative moods, ward off depression, and improve self-esteem. Try to walk 3 days a week for 10-30 minutes at a time.
Source: Lifeworks
Wear green in recognition of Mental Health Month
- Employees are encouraged to wear green on Wednesday, May 22, in recognition of mental health awareness. Those wearing green may enjoy a jeans day.
- Visit www.DallasISD.org/Benefits to copy the Mental Health Awareness email signature block.
- Download the EAP Telus Health One app from either the Apple Store or Google Play for EAP resources, tools, and strategies at your fingertips 24/7 365 days per year.
The Employee Assistance Program provides short-term counseling for you, your spouse/partner, and any dependent family members. Counseling sessions can assist with a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and many more! And, as always, you can reach TELUS Health EAP 24/7 at 972-925-4000 option 3.
