Here, Sarah dives into the fascinating research behind this simple, effective, and totally free tool. Try walking without a destination more often and see what it clears up for you. I think the cause of a lot of the anxiety we see today is that life now goes at a pace that is not conducive to discerning thought. Our thoughts build up and up and up, and we have no time to work out how we actually feel. It’s an information overload. Walking gets us in exactly the right pace and rhythm to think well. Another way to amp up your walk is to go to expansive places that bring on a sense of awe. Our oxytocin levels increase when we’re in expansive places—ones that make us go, “Oh my god, check out that view.” Oxytocin is the love connection hormone. I think that is part of the reason we want to share our photos of nature: because we want to use them to connect with others. But even if you don’t live near green, expansive space, I advocate for just putting on your shoes and getting out there. Because when you’re anxious, the idea of having to go out and find some incredible, perfect park with the best sunset ever and beautiful trees is a bridge too far. Keep it simple: Tie up your shoes and just walk out of the house for 20 minutes. Just walk. Here are 20 more natural anxiety remedies that might just change your life. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
