The annual Walk This Way Challenge is underway, and registration remains open. Registration instructions can be found on the Employee Wellness page.

While the physical benefits of movement-based exercise, such as walking, are well established, its impact on mental health is just as significant. Activities like walking can support the brain's production and regulation of "feel-good" chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. In turn, this can lead to a range of mental health benefits, including:

• Reduced risk of depression or depressive states
• Decreased level of stress and anxiety
• Improved sleep
• Heightened cognitive function

Because factors like sleep, cognitive function, stress and anxiety are interconnected, the mental health benefits of walking can have a compounding effect when practiced regularly. In addition, walking can promote mindfulness by offering a break from the many distractions of daily life.

The Walk This Way Challenge aims to promote individuals being purposeful with increasing their daily steps not only during the challenge period of May 4-31, but beyond.

To register for the challenge, select the Walk This Way Challenge in the challenges tab of the My Wellness portal. Full instructions can be found on the Employee Wellness page.

For mental health-related resources, check out the My Emotional Health page.