Even a dull walk lifts your mood

Everyday walking lifted people's mood, even when they expected the activity to be dull.

The study

Across three experiments, the researchers tested ordinary walking that came up as part of routine activity, not walking framed as exercise. Walking lifted positive mood even when people did not know that walking was the point, when the activity was uninteresting, and when they expected it to make them feel worse. A third experiment ruled out posture and other surrounding events as the cause.

Starting small

Small amounts of walking count. Taking the stairs, walking to a farther spot, or pacing during a phone call are easy ways to fit more of it into a day.