Walking and cycling - the health benefits
Keeping active is really important for looking after your body and mind. Walking or cycling for leisure and everyday journeys is an easy way to build activity into your daily routine and work towards your 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
Active travel has huge benefits for your physical health: it boosts your immune system, help to cut down on air pollution and keeps you at a healthy weight – all great for staying fit and well at this critical time when health is at the forefront of everybody’s minds. Our friends over at Love to Ride have explored the many benefits of cycling over on their Ride-Healthy website, while you can find useful information about the health benefits of walking on our website and on the NHS' Walking for health website.
As well as being good for you physically, walking or cycling will also boost your mood and help you to manage stress and anxiety at what we know is a troubling time for many. For more information about looking after your mental wellbeing during this time, you may find the following websites helpful:
- The Government’s website has some useful tips and advice for looking after your mental health during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak
- NHS’ Every Mind Matters has a range of helpful information including how to manage anxiety and tips for coping if you’re shielding