Fall Sunset Walks
A long walk is just what I need at the end of stressful days. I believe walks at sunset are one of the easiest and quickest ways to connect with your inner self and admire the beauty of the world we live in. After hours of being connected to my phone and computer - getting the chance to disconnect from techonology and reconnnect with nature helps soothe anxiety. Fall is my favorite season for sunset walks. The air is crisper, the breeze is cooler and the earth lights up with strands of gold grass and leaves. It’s truly a magical season and evening walks light up my soul.
I’ve been incredibly transparent about my journey with anxiety over the past few years. Heck- I even have a page on this blog devoted to sharing tips, tricks and reflections. It’s been a long process and I’ve come a long way since I had daily panic attacks. Yesterday morning I awoke with a ton of anxiety. I couldn’t pinpoint why because there was nothing really wrong in my life. I’ve been eating healthier, doing yoga, meditating and getting acupuncture. I strive for more sleep and practice downtime in my busy life. Yet the alarm went off at 6:30am and I was up immediately with an uneasy feeling. I got dressed and decided to burn it off. Six miles later I felt at ease. I believe exercise is one of the most impactful ways to lower anxiousness.
For many of us who struggle with anxiety, it’s incredibly frustrating to hear things like “Chill out” or “you need to calm down.” The truth is, if we could chill out and calm down we would gladly welcome it. Whenever I feel that lump in my throat or nervousness in my stomach rising I realize the best thing for me to do is just move my body. I put something positive in my ears and get to walking. I take time on the walk to just breathe in the fresh air and notice the details of my surroundings. I pick apart the colors of each tree and leaf. I notice the bark on the tree trunks and the individual strands of grass. I pick apart the depth of the clouds and focus on my physical surroundings. I find this form of moving meditation does wonder in bringing the energy to a more calm state. The next time you feel anxious, I challenge you to go for a sunset walk (or any walk for that matter). Notice how you feel during and after. I bet you anything it will make a huge difference.
