Turns out a walk in a park is good for your mental health
Step up for your mental wellbeing this October. Surround yourself with greenery and good vibes by joining a parkwalk or parkrun every Saturday morning.
What do Albert Einstein, Taylor Swift and William Wordsworth have in common? They all enjoy (or enjoyed) regular walks in nature to clear their minds and fuel their creativity.
The science supports it. And Vitality rewards it.
A walk in the park is good for you
Research shows that 280 million people across the globe struggle with depression. What's more, depression tends to affect more women than men.
One antidote? Exercise (even just a little bit).
A Vitality study with researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Cape Town found that 1 in 5 cases of depression in woman could be prevented if physical activity increased from low to moderate levels.
For example, increasing exercise from 5,000 to 10,000 steps one day in a week can reduce the incidence of depression significantly!
Why green is good for your mood
A study published in June 2019 found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature can boost your physical health and mental wellbeing.
The research, which analysed data from 19,806 participants, showed how exposure to natural environments like parks, woodland areas, and beaches can help lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, mental distress, and more.
For maximum health benefits, the World Health Organization recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of exercise a week. Make it a walk in the park and your body and mind will thank you!
Let's parkrun for mental health
In celebration of World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2023, join our Team Vitality Champions for a parkwalk or parkrun on Saturday, 7 and 14 October, at 08:00. Experience the calming and restorative effects of a walk in the park for yourself and earn 300 Vitality points every Saturday with Discovery Vitality.
Plus, if you live near Delta Park in Johannesburg, join Comrades legend Bruce Fordyce as he takes on his 500th parkrun on 14 October.
Our Team Vitality Champions will be waiting for you at the following venues:
- Johannesburg: Bryanston, Delta Park, Gilloolys, Golden Harvest and Rietvlei
- Pretoria: Botanical Gardens
- KwaZulu-Natal: Ballito, North Beach and Umhlanga
- Western Cape: Bellville, Century City, Green Point and Rondebosch Common
- Gqeberha: Hobie Beach
- Garden Route: George and Knysna
Or simply join any parkrun near you. It's free. It's fun. And it's for everyone.
Link your parkrun profile to Vitality using your SA ID or passport number and scan your barcode at the finish line. For details, download the parkrun benefit guide.
Know your health. Get rewarded.
But wait, there's more! If you complete your online Vitality mental wellbeing assessments, you can earn 500 Vitality points twice in a calendar year. That's 1,000 Vitality points towards your Vitality Health status.
Log in to your Vitality profile in the Discovery app to complete your mental wellbeing assessment today.
See you at parkrun!
Live life with Vitality
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