Awesome effects of a short stroll

TAKING a weekly 15- minute walk to stop and appreciate nature makes you happier.

A study found that older people feel a boost to positive emotions when they are in awe of surroundings on strolls.

Selfies of volunteers, aged over- 75, revealed “more intense” smiles afterwards compared with photos taken before and during the regular exercise.

People were encouraged to notice the beauty of the world around them, and results improved in two months.

One helper said they felt “the wonder that a small child feels as they explore their expanding world”.

In contrast, the control group were more inwardly focused and thought about future plans and current stresses.

Dr Virginia Sturm, of University of California, said that “promoting the experience of awe could be an extremely low- cost tool for improving the emotional health of older adults through a simple shift in mindset”.