Beat cabin fever with a daily walk

A new survey* for Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May), has found that a fifth (22%) of people either spend no time, or spend less than 20 minutes a day walking. When people who walk didn’t leave the house, they reported feeling “restless” (37%), “less fit” (36%) and “irritable” (28%) in the survey commissioned by Living Streets, the UK’s everyday walking charity.

Dame Jane Roberts, doctor and psychiatrist said:

“It may sound made up, but cabin fever is very real. Rather than being a mental illness, it’s a common condition that arises from the feelings of being alone and cooped up a confined space. Once we start to feel stuck, our mind latches onto other negative emotions to make us feel that things will only get worse.”

How do you know if you’re experiencing cabin fever? According to Dr Jane, a telltale sign is when you become irritable or anxious over small things that wouldn’t normally trouble you. Other signs may include fatigue or tiredness, sleeplessness, boredom, restlessness, a wandering mind, and difficulty focusing.

The good news is that regularly getting out of the house – ideally every day – will help you shake off cabin fever. This May, Living Streets is encouraging people to walk for 20 minutes every day as part of their National Walking Month. Even a 20-minute walk increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood, according to research.[1]

Getting out for a walk or another form of exercise can also increase self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety. It also plays a role in preventing the development of mental health problems and in improving the quality of life of people experiencing mental health problems.

To find out more, visit livingstreets.org.uk/nwm or search social media with the hashtags #Try20 and #MagicOfWalking

[1] Mental Health Foundation, 2023 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/How-to-exercise.pdf