Knowledge Doesn’t Always Mean Action

Walking in nature and it’s benefits

My sanctuary is the beach and I’m very lucky to live a few minutes from some of the best beaches in Donegal. I know the benefits of getting out for a walk in the evening, and I know it will always make me feel better. But at the moment I’m finding it nearly impossible to motivate myself to get out there. I make every excuse. I tell myself I’ll do it tomorrow or that I’m too tired. I think of how long the beach is and try to calculate how many steps I need to take to reach the other side of it. I even try to convince myself that sitting in front of the TV will be just as beneficial in helping me switch off after a day at work. The truth is that I want to curl up on the sofa and watch mindless reality TV and not have to engage my brain. The last thing I feel like doing is going for a walk.

From past experience I know walking in nature makes me feel better. I began walking in nature a few years ago. I had just moved from Dublin back to the small rural village where I grew up in Donegal. I was struggling with my mental health and no matter what I tried I just couldn’t block the feeling of absolute despair that I felt in every cell of my body, each minute of every day.