The Benefits of Morning Walks

Hi @beachyshell,

Thank you for sharing! This was lovely to read. I’m glad you found a great self-care routine and that it helps you go through each day. How you start the day is really important because sometimes it’ll ultimately decide how you’ll feel the whole day and I understand that so much.

I can relate to having a morning routine, although mine is a little bit different and involves less physical activity. Before I start my day, it is essential for me to read at least a bit from the novel I’m currently reading. I mostly read from phone or iPad nowadays, and it’s most probably making my eyesight worse, but I found that if I don’t read at least a bit before I officially get up and start my day, I would feel like I didn’t start my day right. It helped me a lot during uni because I always felt like I didn’t have enough time to do my hobbies. So, I always make sure that I take a little bit of time to read when I wake up and it immediately makes me feel good about the day.

I’m not really into physical activities but whenever I go on morning walks with my mom and our dogs, I find that I actually really like it! I love the cold breeze and going to cafes to get coffee and a pastry is always the highlight for me.  

It’s great to hear about your progress and thank you for sharing your self-care routine. You’re doing really great. Keep it up!

Hi @beachyshell,

It was lovely to read your post about walking. I can hear how this act of self care has positively transformed how you see and experience the world around you.

I also want to acknowledge the initiative you continue to take in making walking a core part of your everyday routine!

I relate as walking helps to clear my mind, even on the most overwhelming of days.

Proud of your progress and the amazing effort you continue to make in this space! 😊

Hey @beachyshell,

Your post was so beautiful to read! 

I received a PTSD diagnosis in 2022, and can definitely relate to you that my self-care was very neglected in this time. I found it super hard to take time to authentically care for myself!! 

You seem to have developed such a carefully curated and positive routine and I am so glad to hear that it has been helpful for you! There is serious strength and power in identifying what our bodies might benefit from in regard to our mental health, and even more so to be pushing through every day to stick to your plan. 

Super proud of you! Keep it up 🙂

Hi @beachyshell 

I love this and did the same thing when I was battling depression and anxiety, taking a walk truly made the difference. While I don't take as many morning walks as I used to, I saw the benefits and found that physical exercise was good and important for me, so I took up the gym instead to add something to my routine. It helped me set rules around social media in particular, like I'm not allowed on social media until after 8 am or at least been up for over an hour, it truly made a difference in my routine. 

I also agree with being outside and setting a positive tone for the day, I found that I would sit outside and eat breakfast now or hang out with my pets more outside than just inside. The sunlight on my body truly made a difference. 

It's great to see that you have been able to add to your routine, that benefits you and not only your physical health but mental health. 

Hi @beachyshell! 

I love to see that your mornings have completely flipped! I also struggle with getting up in the morning sometimes but when I do it makes a massive difference in how I spend the rest of my day. Morning walks is a great idea to get some endorphins flowing and to brighten up your day. What I tend to do to motivate myself to start the day earlier is plan out some activities for the morning. This can be as simple as go to the supermarket early so its not busy or even shopping at my local shopping strip. I find this motivates me a bit more than exercise lol 😊

Good luck with everything and keep at it!!!

Hi @beachyshell!

It’s so wonderful to see you write about how mornings have become such an important part of your day and routine, especially in grounding you.

It really shows how much work you’ve put in, and that is so commendable and inspiring.

While I’m personally not a morning person, I’ve found that taking a little extra time in the mornings to get ready has been really beneficial. Making myself breakfast, thinking about how I can dress to express myself, and just easing into the day before diving into everything else makes a huge difference. Every little effort counts—whether it’s eating your breakfast a bit slower or wearing an outfit you’d usually reserve for special occasions. It’s the small things that truly matter, and I’m so glad you touched on this in your post!

Hey @beachyshell! 

I can relate to the struggle of feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of the morning, especially when dealing with mental health challenges. For a long time, my mornings were rushed and disorganised, which would lead into my day and really set the tone for how my week was going to be. It felt like I was just going through the motions, trying to keep up with everything I had to do. I often neglected taking time for myself, and it became a really difficult cycle to break.

I also discovered walking and exercise first thing in the morning as one of my personal tools in keeping managing my anxiety.

Starting he day with a movement, whether it’s the gym or a nice walk gives me a moment to reset and breathe. The act of getting up, getting dressed, and stepping outside shifts my mindset, helping me feel more present and in control.

It’s a chance to clear my thoughts, prepare myself mentally for the day ahead, and enjoy something just for me. Over time, I also agree, this small change has significantly improved my overall well-being and made my mornings feel much more peaceful and intentional.

Keep at it! And thank you for sharing 💪