How Walking Enhances Meaning, Purpose, and Employee Mental Health

7-minute read

Stepping outside for a morning walk is one of my favorite ways to kick off the day. Fresh air and exercise reliably wake up mind and body, putting me in an upbeat headspace. And when I’m mentally dragging or stuck during the work day, a short walk delivers an energy bump and fresh perspective.

Walking any time of day supports employee mental health in remarkable ways (read our white paper for details: Mental Health in Motion: Walking Your Way to a Healthier, More Resilient Workforce). A critical element is fostering a stronger sense of meaning and purpose — vital ingredients for happiness, mental well-being, and life satisfaction. These factors also have great positive influence on physical health.

In this blog:

• Why meaning and purpose matter for mental/physical health
• How walking contributes to meaning and purpose
• 3 ways to get employees walking.

Why Meaning and Purpose Matter for Employee Mental/Physical Health 

We need to feel our lives have meaning and purpose. We need to know we matter to others… that who we are and what we do align with our values and make a difference. 

With much of our waking life spent at work, it plays a significant role in shaping meaning, purpose, and well-being — with working conditions having considerable influence on mental health and life satisfaction.

Having a strong sense of meaning and purpose is associated with better mental/physical health and life satisfaction; without them, thriving can feel out of reach.¹

Meaning and Purpose Strengthen: ^{2, 3}

• Motivation to pursue interests and goals.
• Ability to cope with life’s difficulties and move forward.
• Community involvement (like volunteering).
• Social connections to help relationships thrive and societies flourish.

Meaning and Purpose Contribute to: ^{4, 5, 6}

• Higher well-being when we pursue goals that help others.
• Good mental health across the lifespan.
• Better cognitive function.
• Lowered stress and more beneficial sleep.
• Enhanced coping and recovery from illness.
• Reduced cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.
• Stronger immune function.
• Increased longevity.

Read More: Does Purpose Play a Positive Role in Mental Health? 

Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace

Supporting mental health in the workplace requires a comprehensive approach to nurture a positive work culture, address clinical concerns, minimize stress, and elevate employee well-being. Employee mental health is a foundation of every organization’s success; the US Surgeon General’s Five Essentials framework offers guidance in promoting psychological well-being through system-wide strategies.

Providing employees and their families easy access to mental health services and Employee Assistance Programs is fundamental. And so are policies, benefits, and programs like these that contribute to a healthy work-life balance: 

• Realistic workloads 
• Flexible work hours 
• Telecommuting/hybrid work options 
• Effective, engaging wellness programs that inspire healthy lifestyle habits.

Manager training is another critical factor. When workplace leaders facilitate mutual respect, clear communication, appropriate assignments, and a positive work culture, they contribute to a psychologically safe environment. Managers equipped to support mental health at work can recognize needs, intervene, and encourage employees to use available resources. 

More Than Exercise: How Walking Contributes to Meaning and Purpose

For me, walking isn’t just exercise. I walk to feel good, catch up with family/friends, and enjoy being out in nature. During solo walks, I clear my mind, contemplate ideas/questions/concerns, or listen to a podcast. While putting one foot in front of the other, my mind can settle and simply observe. 

Watching nature go about its business — rain or shine — shifts my outlook, reminding me that many seemingly urgent matters maybe aren’t. Walking in more urban areas can be renewing, too — stepping away for a change of scenery is restorative no matter the environment… a mindful activity when we pay attention to what we see, noticing what’s new. Taking a trek with others brings the additional benefits of social connection. 

Studies reveal associations between physical activity and an expanded sense of meaning and purpose, described below. 

More Exercise Is Linked With Greater Sense of Purpose — and Vice Versa 

A large longitudinal study shows those with a greater sense of purpose may be more likely to be physically active. And getting regular exercise is associated with higher future levels of purpose. Setting out for a walk could mean social time, aiming for a step or distance goal, striving toward a fitness objective or prioritizing mind/body well-being. Whatever’s driving you, each walk can strengthen purpose, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. 

Shared Exercise Strengthens Social Connections

Walking together is a comfortable way to know others better and strengthen social bonds⁸ — a key source of meaning and purpose. Sometimes conversations flow more freely when walking side by side than when seated. It’s also good to meet other walkers; we benefit from brief uplifting interactions, too. 

Read More: Walking: How Workplace Step Challenges Help People Connect

Walking Fosters Personal Reflection 

Taking regular time for personal reflection is a key ingredient for building meaning and purpose; this can seamlessly happen within a walking habit. Whether pondering existential or everyday matters, walking offers mental space for mulling things over. 

Spending Active Time in Nature Sparks Positive Emotions

Being active in nature (parks, trails, green spaces and near bodies of water) reduces negative feelings and increases positive emotions vital for meaning and purpose — such as hope and gratitude. It also brings people together for shared experiences of wonder, awe, and enjoyment. 

Read More: It Takes Less Exercise Than You Think to Improve Mental Health 

3 Ideas to Get Employees Walking

The mental health benefits of walking are sometimes undersold or ignored in favor of physical fitness benefits. Well-being professionals can bring these together through thoughtful messaging and program elements.

Promote Walking Breaks as a Way to Feel Better

Emphasize how walking helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while cultivating positive perspectives to help navigate the inevitable ups and downs of work and life. Highlighting immediate feel-good benefits of walking appeals to emotions, which are typically stronger drivers of behavior than logic. 

Support Walking in Nature 

Tout the substantial mental health benefits of walking outside. Help workers find green or blue spaces with route maps and encourage active nature time in all messaging. For prize drawings, promote outdoor recreation with gear or park passes. Support participation in 5K/10K and other active events with free or discounted registration and teams with T-shirts.

Make It Easy to Join a Walking Group 

Publicize a few times and places to meet up for breaktime walks. Challenge employees to form walking groups of their own. Getting to know colleagues in other departments by walking together helps employees feel more connected — enhancing well-being plus communication and retention. The fun and feel-good perks they experience can spread the mental health payoffs of walking throughout your organization.

Learn More: HES Walking/Physical Activity Challenges

Best Foot Forward 

Walking is a fun, simple activity that nearly anyone can do for mental/physical well-being. Being active anywhere, any time of day, any length of time is beneficial; personalizing a walking habit makes it enjoyable and more sustainable. 

There are many problems we can’t solve alone — but each of us can take steps to enhance our own health with regular exercise. Making walking a daily habit is a powerful way to increase a sense of agency over personal wellness and circumstances. It’s harder to stay stuck when you’re physically moving forward, experiencing a stronger sense of meaning and purpose, and feeling better.

 

References

¹ Haugan, G., Dezutter, J. (2021). Meaning-in-Life: A vital salutogenic resource for health. In: Haugan, G., Eriksson, M. (Eds.), Health Promotion in Health Care – Vital Theories and Research [Internet]. Cham (CH): Springer. Chapter 8. 

² Grumet, J. (2025). The difference between meaning and purpose. Psychology Today.

³ Routledge, C., FioRito, T. A. (2021). Why meaning in life matters for societal flourishing. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 601899. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.601899.

⁴ Haugan, G., Dezutter, J. (2021). Meaning-in-Life: A vital salutogenic resource for health. In: Haugan, G., Eriksson, M. (Eds.), Health Promotion in Health Care – Vital Theories and Research [Internet]. Cham (CH): Springer. Chapter 8.

⁵ Bishop, R. (2023). Does purpose play a positive role in mental health? Mayo Clinic.

⁶ Greater Good magazine. Purpose: Why pursue it?, accessed September 30, 2025.

⁷ Yemiscigil, A., Vlaev, I. (2021). The bidirectional relationship between sense of purpose in life and physical activity: A longitudinal study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 44, 715–725. 

⁸ Davis, A., Taylor, J., Cohen, E. (2015). Social bonds and exercise: Evidence for a reciprocal relationship. PLOS One, 10(4), e0120478.