Submitted by Peter Lumb on Tue, 2016-01-26 11:17
January can be the longest month. Christmas is long gone, the weather is cold, and it’s been ages since payday. Not to worry, here's Environment & Energy section's top tips to beat the January blues!
1. Discover your local area
Visit somewhere for the first time, or walk or cycle your route to work. Do some Googling before you head off and find out a bit about the area, and research some landmarks or interesting buildings to check out. Printing off some notes or saving some links on your smartphone can help you learn more about your streets. So why not hop on a bike and see more of cultural Cambridge? We'll start you off with this link.
2. Get snap happy
Capturing those memorable images always makes walking interesting. Whether you’re out and about at lunch, snapping the sunset after work or taking pictures of grumpy commuters on your way in, getting snap happy with your camera or smartphone will make your walks even more fun. Follow E&E on Instagram and share your photos with us: https://www.instagram.com/cambridgesust/. We’re fairly sure you’ll come back happier than if you spent that half an hour glued to your desk!
3. Take your friends or colleagues for a lunchtime walk or cycle ride
Whether it’s to find a new food spot, explore a less known part of town or (depending where you live) a wild walk in the park or the edges of the countryside. According to Living Streets, a UK based campaigning organisation for pedestrians and public spaces, walking can help improve mental health:
• 94 per cent of people said 'green exercise' like walking improved their mental health
• 71 per cent of people experienced a decrease in depression levels after going for a walk
• 45 per cent of patients diagnosed with major depression no longer met the criteria for depression after exercising three times a week in a supervised group setting. This compared to 47% of patients who were prescribed antidepressants.
4. Set up an area for relaxation away from the desk
The Cambridge University Counselling Service, as part of their work on Green Impact, set up a ‘mindfulness garden’. Why not get some inspiration by reading the case study on the garden, written by the service’s Mindfulness Practitioner.