A 10-minute walk for more energy

Short walks of 10 to 15 minutes left people feeling more energized and more positive.

The study

Across four experiments, in the field and in the lab, the researchers measured how people felt during and after brief walks. Walking was consistently linked with feeling more energized and more pleasant. As people recovered after the walk, they tended to shift toward feeling calm and relaxed. The pattern held across different measures, settings, and groups of people.

Starting small

A walk does not have to be long to make a difference to how you feel. Ten minutes around the block after lunch is a short, easy habit to start with.