The Shocking Science and Benefits of Taking a Simple Walk: Research From Oxford-Trained Neuroscientist Dr. Shane O’Mara

The Mel Robbins Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts

Education, Mental Health, Relationships, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 10.6K Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2023

⏱️ 58 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, a renowned Oxford-trained neuroscientist teaches you the most incredibly simple, science-backed hack that will change every single part of your life in just 10 minutes. Professor Shane O’Mara, academic writer, author, and Experimental Brain Researcher at Trinity College in Dublin, walks us through the mind-blowing research behind, of all things, walking. You’ll be shocked to learn how the right kind of walking can lower depression and anxiety without medication. Professor O’Mara explains 3 different types of walking: one way will boost your creativity, another will make you more productive, and a third way will make you a rockstar problem solver. You’ll also learn about the incredible cognitive, mechanical, and physiological chain reaction that happens in your brain and body during a simple walk. The research and neuroscience will empower you to use walking to help you: Conquer your fears. Make your brain younger. Reduce your stress and feel happier. Double the number of your creative ideas. Be more focused and productive at work. Turn off anxious thoughts. Decrease inflammation in your body. Improve your relationship with yourself and others. If you’re short on time, bullshit. Put your earbuds in and get outside. Are you ready? Hit play, and let’s walk. Xo, Mel In this episode, you’ll learn: 05:29: Want a younger brain? Start moving. 09:48: You won’t believe these benefits of a 10-minute walk. 11:29: Is your environment working against you? 16:28: Here’s how walking is just as good, if not better, than your antidepressant. 17:20: This is what happens when you get outside and into nature. 20:50: What the heck is a “walking mind”? 23:54: Walking makes you more creative if you do this. 31:34: Turn up your energy while you walk using this incredible metaphor. 32:56: The shocking study that explains how walking changes your personality. 36:07: Don’t have enough time for a walk? I call BS. Here’s why. 39:00: Professor O’Mara suggests your walking routine should look like this. 42:32: 5 easy ways to get in more steps every day. 47:03: This is why you want to make it a habit to walk at night. 52:06: Feel like you don’t belong? Here’s how walking can help. Disclaimer

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast.
0:04.6	When I started the Mel Robbins podcast several months ago, I had this very clear idea in my
0:12.7	mind that our conversations twice a week would feel like a walk with a good friend.
0:18.5	You know when you go for a walk with a good friend, you are always in a better mood.
0:23.0	You learn something interesting, you laugh, maybe you cry, you always get a recommendation
0:27.1	about something and you leave the experience feeling more connected and more energized
0:32.7	and as if you're not the only person going through whatever you're going through.
0:37.3	And so today I'm really curious to hear what you think of our topic because you and I
0:45.5	on this metaphorical walk are going to dig into the science of walking.
0:50.8	Yep.
0:51.8	We're going to talk about the extraordinary benefit to your mind, body and spirit, to
0:59.5	creativity, to longevity that comes from simply taking a walk every day.
1:05.8	I've called in an expert, yep, there is an expert.
1:09.6	This guy is a neuroscientist.
1:11.0	He's over in Ireland.
1:12.2	His name is Dr. Shane O'Mara.
1:14.4	He's not just an expert on walking.
1:16.2	He's the professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College in Dublin.
1:20.6	That's not all.
1:21.6	He's the director of the Trinity College Institute of neuroscience and a member of the academic
1:25.7	staff of the School of Psychology and he wrote the best-selling book in praise of walking
1:31.1	where he digs into the extraordinary number of studies that have been done on the act
	...

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