May is National Walking Month and Mental Health Awareness Month and that’s not a coincidence. The link between movement and mental health is one of the most well-researched areas in wellbeing science, and the findings are hard to ignore.
At Thrive Law, our Wellbeing Committee runs a Steps Challenge throughout May, encouraging the whole team to get moving. And while the leaderboard is a lot of fun, the reason we do it runs much deeper – walking genuinely works.
The Numbers Are Surprising
We often think of mental health support as therapy, mindfulness apps, or medication. Walking rarely gets the credit it deserves – but maybe it should.
Here are some facts that might change how you think about your daily steps:
🚶 Just 1,000 steps a day has been linked to a 10% decrease in depression symptoms and those taking over 7,500 steps daily were found to be 42% less likely to experience depression, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.
😴 People who walk regularly are 45% more likely to report better sleep patterns, according to a study in the journal Sleep Health.
🧠 A one-hour walk in nature has been shown to actually change the part of the brain that processes stress and this effect wasn’t as strong for people who walked in urban areas.
💊 Studies have found that exercise can be as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression.
⏱️ Even 10 minutes of brisk walking has been shown to improve mood in younger adults – you don’t need hours to feel the difference.
Why Does Walking Work?
When you walk, your brain releases endorphins and increases levels of serotonin and dopamine – the chemicals that regulate mood and help you feel good. At the same time, it lowers cortisol, the stress hormone that builds up when we’re overwhelmed.
But it’s not just chemistry. Walking also gives you space away from screens, notifications, and the mental load of the day. It’s a rare moment where your mind gets to wander, process, and slow down. That mental breathing room is something a lot of us are running low on.
There’s also something to be said for the sense of accomplishment that comes from movement, even a short walk. That feeling of doing something for yourself, however small, builds confidence and self-esteem over time.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Why This Matters
Mental health affects all of us. One in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and yet it’s still something many of us find difficult to talk about openly, especially at work.
Mental Health Awareness Month is a reminder to check in with others and with yourself. How are you actually doing? Are you making space to breathe, to move, to step away from your screen?
At Thrive Law, we believe that a healthy workplace starts with people who feel supported. That’s why we take wellbeing seriously not just in May, but all year round.
Our Steps Challenge: A Little Friendly Competition Goes a Long Way
The Thrive Law Steps Challenge is our way of making movement fun. Since February, our Wellbeing Committee has been running a Steps Challenge through to the end of July. The team tracks their steps and we celebrate the milestones together. It’s a small thing, but it creates a shared energy – a reason to take the stairs, to walk to a meeting, to step outside for five minutes between calls.
And that bit of competitiveness? It helps. There’s something motivating about knowing your teammates are out there logging their steps too.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or someone who’s been meaning to get outside more – May is the perfect time to start.
Small Steps, Big Impact
You don’t need a big lifestyle overhaul to look after your mental health. Sometimes it really is the simplest things that work best – a walk outside, some fresh air, a moment away from your screen.
So this May, we’re inviting you to move a little more. Take the long route. Step outside at lunch. Join us on the leaderboard and your mind will thank you.
Want to find out more about how Thrive Law supports employee wellbeing in the workplace? Get in touch with our team at enquiries@thrivelaw.co.uk or call us on 0113 861 8101. We’d love to hear from you.
