Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week and, in preparation for my guided walks, I binge-read lots of the latest studies. During the pandemic, depression and anxiety were experienced by an additional 28% of us. Sadly, we’ve not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In this post I’ll cover what’s new and what’s emerging. And I’ll…
WALKING, APPETITE, PURPOSE AND A WEBINAR
It’s a week to the publication of my new book on walking in nature. To celebrate, my next few posts will be on some of the astonishing (and often little-known) benefits of walking. We hope you’ll also join our free book launch webinar – details below. May and June are our favourite months for moving…
COULD WINTER SEA SWIMMING LIFT YOUR MOOD?
Last week Teenage Daughter asked me to go for a sea swim with her. It was February. It was cold. I had just rolled out of my deliciously warm bed. But having spent the last year saying ‘No’ to all her requests (Can I see a friend? No. Can I go out? No. Can I…
SEEKING POSITIVITY AND FOODS WHICH MAKE US HAPPY
I’ve been thinking a lot about positivity this week, and trying to stay optimistic in testing times. 2020 is shaping up to be a year of seismic shocks, but I’m hopeful we can face up to the need for change in so many areas of our lives. Our treatment of the environment, our health care…
WHAT WE NEED NOW: COLD SHOWERS AND WARM RECIPES
We’ve had a bit of a week of it at The Age-Well Project: Annabel’s computer blew up, leaving her without thousands of precious documents, notes and creative work. I’ve been juggling a sick teenager, an injured puppy, a defunct boiler (so no hot water) a broken dishwasher. And, to cap it all, Tuesday’s storms saw…
WHY GOALS MATTER (AND I DON’T MEAN FOOTBALL)
I’ve just set myself a ridiculous goal: to give a speech in French. To French people. I haven’t spoken French for a very long time. I got an embarrassingly bad grade at A-level, over thirty years ago. But the event is in November – so I’ve got plenty of time to brush up – and I’ve…
HOW PLANTING A TREE COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
I spent a day planting trees last week. It was an uplifting experience with a HUGE number of healthy ageing benefits. In fact, I think it could be top of the charts for age-well activities – see below! I volunteered at the Woodland Trust’s First World War Centenary Woods at Langley Grove, Surrey. Each tiny…
WHY LONELINESS IS AN EPIDEMIC and BAKED ZA’ATAR CHICKEN
What does it say about us as a nation that we need a Minister for Loneliness? It’s both uplifting that the issue is being addressed, and heart-breaking that it needs tackling in the first place. We are living through an epidemic of loneliness, where smaller households, longer working hours, a more transient workforce and increased…
GREEN SPACE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Do you have time in the countryside planned this summer? I hope so. If not, find a bit of green space nearby (city parks are great) and aim for some Green Time every day. We’ve been singing the praises of trees and the great outdoors for some time now, but in the last few weeks…
WHY YOU SHOULD BE DANCING (& CHRISTMAS NUTS)
What you doin’ on your back, aah/ You should be dancing yeah… Anyone remember those lyrics from the Bee Gees? Well, it turns out the Bee Gees were right. And as we’re in full party swing, I’m delighted to bring you the facts and figures showing why we really should be dancing (yeah). I’m not…
