New research reveals that a brisk 30-minute outdoor stroll can deliver a 46 per cent surge in positive mood alongside a 30 per cent drop in stress levels. Neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis urges people to venture outdoors and 'benefit from the brain-boosting effects of walking' following the latest electroencephalogram (EEG) studies.
Community 'Joy Walks' Introduced
The findings are being utilised to introduce a series of community 'Joy Walks' guided by local specialists who will craft routes celebrating natural landscapes. The aim is to encourage more people to embark on hiking and experience its advantages.
Key Benefits of Outdoor Walking
The Joy of Walking study shows that regular outdoor walking can, on average, cut exhaustion by 21 per cent and enhance feelings of accomplishment. Individuals participating in nature-based pursuits showed increased brain signals linked to positive emotions by an average of 43 per cent throughout the frontal cortex – with some instances reaching 99.6 per cent specifically for male participants.
Notably, the connection between outdoor walking and positive wellbeing proves 'dose-dependent', with those spending extended periods outdoors reporting heightened positivity and contentment. Additional advantages of a 15-minute outdoor walk encompass enhanced brain activity tied to attention and memory, elevating the brain's capacity to focus by 243 per cent, and multiplying brain signals connected to concentration threefold.
Dr Jack Lewis said: 'All the evidence shows that walking outdoors is not only good for the body, but also for the brain, releasing all manners of positive effects including increased creativity and concentration and decreased exhaustion and cynicism. From a scientific point of view, the more doses of the great outdoors people take, the better for their brainwaves.'
Joey Zhou, Hiking Commercial Leader at Decathlon UK, said: 'We have long believed in the positive impact of outdoor walking, but it is great to now have the benefits backed by science.'
Olivia Manchester, who put the EEG research to the test during an outdoor weekend break, said: 'Hiking isn't something we regularly do as a family given our city life, and taking part in this study has opened our eyes to all that we have been missing out on. By disconnecting with our phones and everyday worries for a few hours and stepping into nature, we spent quality time with each other and felt more relaxed. We'll definitely be doing it more regularly now.'
