14 Benefits of Walking for Just 15 Minutes

Home Best you Fitness

Walking is great for weight loss, but the benefits go far beyond—from higher energy and better mood to stress relief, creativity boost, and more.

1 / 14

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Walking benefit: Lift your mood

Whether you’re just having a down day or a down life, taking a walk can lift your mood—especially when you go outdoors, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The study participants who averaged 150 minutes of moderate exercise (golf, tennis, aerobics classes, swimming, or line-dancing) or 200 minutes of walking every week reported higher energy levels, better emotional health, and a more robust social life when researchers followed up after three years.

2 / 14

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Walking benefit: Get creative juices flowing

Stumped for an idea? Take a quick stroll around the block. Whether you need a solution to a problem at work or you’re looking for inspiration for your novel, walking gets your creative juices flowing in all areas. One Stanford University study found that walking can boost creative output by 60 percent. The same results were found for both indoor and outdoor workouts, and the creative boost lasted after the walk itself.

(Related: Learn the benefits of awe walking.)