Take a Walk
No one ever felt worse after a walk.
There is so much science on the benefits of walking. It’s good medicine for just about anything, but especially when you’re cutting the booze.
It is such a boost to your mental health! Walking can help reduce stress and boost your mood by releasing endorphins and serotonin, known as "feel-good" hormones. Walking can also help with depression and anxiety by improving your body's ability to respond to stress.
When you’re trying something challenging—but exciting—like cutting back or quitting alcohol, getting outside for a quick walk can be so helpful in moving energy through your body and easing your way through periods of discomfort that can come up as you’re navigating a new way of being. It’s always something I turn to when I need to reset my mental state or get a creative boost.
I’ve taken a daily walk for decades. It’s a part of my daily rhythm to get outside every day for about 30 minutes no matter the weather and walk. It’s a practice I never see myself stopping. I have so many moments of clarity, insight, problem-solving, and creative inspiration. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks, call a friend, Marco Polo with my besties, or simply enjoy the moment without my phone.
If walking isn’t part of your daily routine I encourage you to give it a try a couple of days a week at first. When we’re taking a break or quitting alcohol the body is doing deep healing work from the long-term effects of alcohol. A couple of short walks throughout the day can be very grounding and resetting to your nervous system.
It’s free, easy, and requires nothing but you getting up and getting out to do it. And everyone has five or ten minutes to get out and stretch their legs. If you’re resistant, think low effort. This should not be complicated! No fancy walking shoes required. Just get out there and put one foot in front of the other for a few minutes and build up from there.
If your drinking habits often involved evenings on the couch with wine in front of the TV (like mine did), getting some fresh air and mixing it up for a long walk in the evening instead will be a happy replacement for your heart and mind. A break from alcohol often creates new found free time and if you’re wondering how to spend the—sometimes long—evening hours a walk is a great way to distract your mind a bit.
Happy walking!
