Day 10 – Go for a Walk (Swapped with Day 12)

Because sometimes the plan changes—and that’s okay.

Let’s just get this part out of the way: I swapped Day 10 and Day 12 of the 31-Day Mental Health Challenge. Why? Because life happened. Yesterday called for fresh air, sunshine, and a family outing—and honestly, I regret nothing. The point of this challenge isn’t perfection. It’s progress. And if we’re still doing the things—just not in the exact order—we’re still winning.

So today I’m writing about Day 10 – Go for a Walk, which was originally planned for Day 12. Tomorrow I’ll tackle the water-drinking goal, which was meant to be today. We’re still checking boxes. Just in a slightly creative order. Let’s move on.

Yesterday’s Adventure: The Accidental Mental Health Walk

It was the opening day of the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale—a magical land of gently used books of all genres, ages, and obsessions. I grabbed my daughter and granddaughter and off we went, with great enthusiasm and very little parking strategy.

We ended up parking several blocks away for two reasons:

1. I didn’t want to pay for parking (obviously).

2. The closer spots were packed tighter than a toddler’s toy box.

Enter: our 15–20 minute walk to the sale. I assembled the grandbaby’s wagon like a boss and off we went.

Inside, we wandered through aisle after aisle of books—our version of Disneyland. My granddaughter started to lose patience somewhere around the self-help section (can’t blame her). So I pulled her out of the wagon, and we explored the children’s books. She picked a few on her own, plopped down to flip through one, and we let her soak in her moment. Her mom and I grabbed some age-appropriate ones too—hello potty training stage.

After a good 90 minutes or more, our arms full of paper treasures, we walked the 20+ minutes back to the truck. Slower this time. More tired. Considerably sweatier. And definitely happier.

When I got home, I was physically sore—legs, arms, the whole nine yards. But my soul? She was thriving. My daughter messaged later to say the grandbaby had a blast and was so tired she fell asleep early. We were already planning future walks—parks, green spaces, anywhere with room to roam and explore. And I smiled knowing how good the day had felt.

Why Walking Works Wonders (According to Science)

Sure, walking burns calories. But more importantly—it clears emotional clutter. Here’s why walking is a tried-and-true mental health tool:

• It boosts mood: Walking triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin—feel-good brain chemicals that lower stress and improve overall emotional well-being.

• It reduces anxiety and depression: Studies show that consistent walking, especially outdoors, is effective in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety (Mental Health and Physical Activity Journal).

• It enhances sleep quality: Walking can regulate your circadian rhythm and reduce cortisol levels, helping you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.

• It encourages mindfulness: Even if you’re not “intentionally” walking mindfully, the rhythm of movement and change in scenery naturally quiets the mind and grounds your thoughts.

I didn’t set out to do a mindful walk. I just wanted books and bonding time. But it turns out, that was mindful movement after all. I moved my body, I connected with my family, I felt the sun on my skin, and I smiled—a lot.

The Lesson: It’s Okay to Pivot

This challenge isn’t about strict rules or guilt trips. It’s about doing the things that refill your cup—even if you do them out of order. Walking helped me reconnect, decompress, and find joy in a very simple act: putting one foot in front of the other. It may have been a book haul on the surface, but underneath, it was therapy with a side of cardio.

Tomorrow? Water. Today? Joy, sunshine, and sore legs.

It's ok to change the order of things. So long as you are still participating.