Department of Family Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Michael A. Becketts
Director

Volunteer Voices – Self-Care: Take a Walk!

Volutneer Voices newsletter graphic image of conversation clouds, announcement horn, speaker microphone

(Published 2022 September)

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Our ancestors were physically active because it was necessary to gather food and protect themselves. As technology has advanced, however, we’ve become much more sedentary. Now our brains work harder than our bodies while we sit behind a desk, chained to a computer screen. 

A walking routine is perfect to get us moving again—for health and emotional wellness. This is why:

  • Manage depression. An Archives of Internal Medicine showed people with depression who walked every day improved symptoms as much as people who took medication.
  • Lighten mood. Walking improves your mood, boosts self-esteem, and encourages social interaction, according to a study in PubMed Central.
  • Boost your brain. Walking brings a ton benefits for your brain, including cognitive functioning and memory improvement, according to a study from the Journal of Developmental Neurorehabilitation.
  • Decrease stress. Research published in the American Journal of Cardiology suggests regular walking creates a dose response that eliminates the stress hormone cortisol from your system, reducing anxiety.
  • Increase happiness. Researchers have found that people who are physically active feel more excited and enthusiastic than those who lead more sedentary lives.
  • Improve relationships. Get a walking buddy. This is a wonderful way to connect while getting in a workout, too! 

In your quest to walk for self-care, you should do it the right way (no, walking from your desk to the refrigerator in the break room doesn’t count). To reap real benefits, you should build a daily routine around it. Invest in a pair of high-quality walking shoes to support your ankles and arches. And get to stepping for at least 30 minutes each day! (If you haven’t been walking regularly, chat with your doctor first.)


This article posting is part of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services' Volunteer Voices monthly newsletter for current and potential volunteers. If you're not already a volunteer, learn how to get involved. Find out about upcoming trainings, volunteer trainings, happenings around the DSVS office and information about articles, books, media recommendations and more.

Learn more about the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS).

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