Take a walk outdoors

Take a walk (forward ambulation) - visual images pass by our eyes and quiets activity in the amygdala. Natural sunlight stimulates neurons which signals the brain to be alert and bumps cortisol.

Getting into a mode of forward ambulation and especially experiencing visual flow has a powerful effect on the nervous system.

The amygdala is part of the network in the brain that generates feelings of fear, threat and anxiety.

There are now at least half a dozen quality papers, published in quality peer reviewed journals, that show that forward ambulation, walking or biking, or running  - has this incredible property of lowering the activity in the amygdala and thereby reducing levels of anxiety.

From Andrew Huberman Lab https://hubermanlab.com

HHM Note: I tend to walk every day at lunch time, any time of the year, it is a ritual for me. I feel mentally better after a walk, refilled, refreshed. 

When there is a psychological issue where I have to think, calm down and make a decision - I would rather go for a walk, than finding the answers in a bottle of something or a drug.

Photo by guille pozzi on Unsplash