Blue Monday (January 16th) is thought to be the most stressful day of the year, but there are simple ways you can enhance your day, so it doesn’t have to be.
Simply walking has proved to help ease anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and overall well-being, but it’s not always easy to find the time. Also, speed trudging across grimy Northern Quarter back alleys or weaving your way head-down through the Market Street throngs isn’t quite the same as a peaceful stroll through woodland, but there are pockets of green space you might be able to access in Greater Manchester.
The UK’s No1 CBD brand TRIP has collected and analysed public opinion on the most popular 5-kilometre walks (roughly one hour) in Manchester to find the best lunchtime walks to help beat the Monday blues.
They did this by scraping alltrails.com for every UK city, adding parameters of <5km, <1500 km elevation, easy difficulty, and light to moderate trail traffic.
Wellness expert and TRIP co-founder Olivia Ferdi says: “Movement always helps whenever I’m feeling low – be it stretching, taking walking meetings or cardio, it works every time to clear my mind. Try taking breaks to go on a walk, shifting your environment will give your mind a reset and reinvigorate your perspective.”
Walking is the perfect free activity that can help calm your mind. Walking has been found to release feel-good hormones known as endorphins into the bloodstream. This natural high helps brighten your mood even on the dullest days.
As it’s still dark in the mornings, TRIP compiled a list of the best lunchtime walks to squeeze in during the middle of your work day to help overcome Blue Monday and other challenging days of the year.
Here are the five best lunchtime walks in Greater Manchester:
- Clifton Country Park and Marina
This 4.7-kilometre circular trail takes, on average, an hour to complete and is ideal for walking, hiking and running. While suitable for family and dog walks, the route can get muddy after the rain, so make sure you bring waterproof shoes. With a variety of sculptures to admire and a local visitors centre, there’s plenty to explore.
- Gorton Upper Reservoir Circular
A popular trail for bird watching, hiking and running, this 4.5-kilometre route is open all year round and is a beautiful spot to visit in any season. Peaceful and tranquil, this quiet spot is perfect for a moment of solitude and reconnecting with nature as you stroll around the reservoir.
- Platt Fields Circular
Platt Fields is a beautiful 3.2-kilometre circular trail, which features a church and a historic home, as well as a duck pond and plenty of wildlife to admire. This park allows you to recharge and escape the stress of modern life and often sees many people walking, running and biking.
- Alexandra Park
While this 2.9-kilometre trail may be short to complete, 38 minutes on average, it’s a fantastic spot to spend the day and explore everything it has to offer. From children’s play areas, picnic spots and cafes to views over the water and places for birdwatching, Alexandra park makes for a lovely day out.
- Hopwood Woodlands and Pond Circular
A stunning trail all year round, Hopwood Woodland and Pond Circular offer 5-kilometres of quiet woodlands where you’re unlikely to encounter anyone else. Popular for dog walking, hiking and mountain biking, this trail takes an average of 1 hour 10 minutes to complete.
TRIP Stockists
TRIP has achieved significant market penetration since launch, globally stocked in several high-profile retailers, including Soho House and Erewhon in LA, Monoprix and La Relay in France, alongside UK partners including The Ivy, Brewdog, LEON, Benugo, Equinox, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Ocado, Selfridges, Harrods & Holland and Barrett.
