To walk and talk in the fresh air with friends feels like a natural human response to life, yet this simple activity triggers a series of magical reactions in your brain. The minute you set out onto the trail, your eyes begin to diligently scan uneven ground, searching for hazards, hoping for treasure...

The words you speak, rehearsed tales of ‘the way things are’ find themselves hastily re-filed, cast erratically by your occupied brain into different corners of its unfathomable storage facility. Stories once complete in their formation from years of telling and re-telling, become fragmented as you prioritise safety, and commit your senses to the task in hand. Wandering and chatting becomes a way of re-framing your own beliefs, breaking down perceived limitations, and drawing shame and fear away from past events. Taking the time to talk things through on a walk not only gets them off your chest, but it also supports you to create a new version of events that can offer solace, solutions and a welcome break from those internal voices that often prevent us from moving on. Walking is therapy for body and mind.

As the seasons tick over from Summer into the damp mists of Autumn, overgrown paths start to die down, the nettles that have snapped at our ankles for weeks mulch back into the earth and the land prepares for its enriching slumber. So too should we turn our thoughts to investing back into ourselves. The summer months are so often spent in the pursuit of adventure, new experiences, new destinations, outward focussed, it can leave us elated but tired. Autumn offers a chance to reflect on what we have learned, consolidate all that input, let it add to who we are, and spend time in a more contemplative mindset. This change of tack lends itself to those affirming walks we spoke about; talking through the Summer with friends, chewing over old worries on new paths, creating a new bank of more positive stories to tell yourself. As the fresh air expands our lungs, our pulse accelerates and our oxygen enriched blood rushes to support our firing muscles, we give our bodies everything they need to grow and thrive. We reduce the impact of stress and anxiety, increase our mental and physical resilience and bring life into perspective. This Autumn, dig out the wellies, sign a friend up to be your walking buddy and use your time outdoors to build an expanding library of supportive, affirmative tales that will sustain your as the nights draw in.

Kate is a Professional Coach and Culture Consultant working in The Surrey Hills, to find out more visit www.airheadcoaching.com