Walk in a Different Park

A change of scene can make a big difference to your mental health.

You don’t need to make a drastic change – like moving to a new

city. But small changes can make a huge difference. For example,

if you take the dog for a walk in the same place every day, change

your route today!

You may not realise this but looking at the same trees or flowers

each day may be dragging you down. Finding somewhere new

to go for a walk is a quick pick up. You may be surprised at how

energised you feel by getting the opportunity to look at new sur-

roundings. Think of how refreshed you feel when you return from

a holiday – your eyes are sparkling, your worries have rolled away,

and you feel that all is right and wonderful in the world. You can

recreate the experience to a small degree when you change your

physical surroundings.

If you usually walk or cycle to work, change your route every so

often. If you can leave work earlier one day, take a longer and more

scenic way home. Stop to enjoy the birds singing and the flowers

blooming. Think of one beautiful thing that you see on your journey

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