I have adopted a new routine. I’m not entirely sure how it came about, but every morning, as soon as I wake up, I go out for a small 10-15 minute walk around my neighborhood. By the time I return home, I feel refreshed, awake, and more energetic.
It’s like yoga for the whole body and mind, replacing my paralyzed and stagnant state after 8 hours of sleep with much-needed movement. This routine seems to work much better than scrolling through social media, taking a shower, or having coffee, as movement is essential and key to leading a healthy and happy life.
This all relates back to the problem of sitting too much and not moving enough, which is a common issue in our modern society. After all, we are not biologically programmed to be constantly sedentary.
Therefore, my morning walks help kickstart my day with much-needed movement. I strive to continue this activity throughout the day by making the effort to avoid taking a car or public transportation whenever possible. I prefer active movement to passive living, and if I have to take public transportation, I always choose to stand even if there is plenty of seating available. I also incorporate walking breaks into my work routine (every hour if possible) and make it a point to go to the gym at least three times a week.
I also schedule regular walking, hiking, biking, roller skating, running, or tourism appointments to make sure I’m constantly on the move. It is simply healthy and is how mother nature meant for us to live, as biologically and psychologically speaking, we are still living as if we were on the plains of the savannah in societies that resemble hunter-gatherers from 300,000 years ago (aka evolution, which is a really slow process).
I enjoy exploring big modern cities for the myriad activities they offer, but I am even more drawn to mother nature, as it provides a diverse array of natural attractions that are both fascinating to explore and offer tremendous health benefits for the body and mind. After all, we are psychologically primed to thrive in nature, rather than in the confines of our homes or office cubicles, which pale in comparison to the vastness of the outdoors.
Additionally, upon returning home from my morning walks, I often notice that the air inside my house feels stale, old, and heavy, indicating that it may not be healthy. Therefore, I make it a point to regularly open windows and let fresh air in, ensuring that I do not live near a busy highway, which could negate the benefits of fresh air.
In this way, what we do, how we live, and our life choices matter because constantly doing things that violate our basic biological and psychological imperatives will likely result in unhappiness. Conversely, our society often incentivizes us to go against these imperatives by promoting unnatural and unhealthy lifestyles, suggesting that this somehow will lead to happiness, which it doesn’t.
Surprisingly (not really), many of my clients are unhappy because they don’t regularly follow basic happiness principles, stating that they are unable to understand why they are unhappy. However, after correcting some of their behaviors, they automatically become happy. This is often achieved without addressing childhood trauma or being medicated. I mean, technically speaking, we should be able to live our best lives right now, regardless of what happened in the past or what will happen in the future by virtue of having a balanced life optimized for happiness and well-being.
Lastly, in this blog, I discuss various ideas and tips for achieving happiness, with getting fresh air being one of such tips. However, given the overwhelming amount of information available on the subject of happiness, it can be easy to feel lost and, as a result, unhappy. This is why I am writing this blog, as to provide people with more insight into what it truly means to be happy. So, if you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to this blog, following me on social media, or inquiring about a complete happiness formula that guarantees the best possible life in terms of happiness and well-being by reaching out to our Optimal Happiness team.
Stay healthy, happy, and refreshed with fresh air!
3 thoughts on “Benefits of Morning Walk & Fresh Air”
A great idea.
Yes, Deedee! However, I always wonder, with so many ideas on what we can do (and what we shouldn’t do), where are the real changes that will make a lasting impact.
Baby steps seem to work best. I already go outside to check the day so a stroll round the block will be an easy add on.