As World Mental Health Day approaches, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on something many of us feel instinctively but rarely pause to appreciate: moving your body is one of the most powerful tools you have for looking after your mind.
At The Feets, we wanted to understand this connection more deeply. So we ran a nationwide survey — and the results were incredibly encouraging. Over 80% of people who experience mental health challenges say physical exercise helps them manage their symptoms.
That’s not a small number. That’s a wake-up call.
How Exercise Helps Us Feel More Human
Over half of the UK public (54%) has experienced stress, anxiety, depression, or similar mental health challenges at some point. Of those, 81% found some form of physical activity beneficial in improving their symptoms.
Here’s what people said helped them most:
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Fresh air (22%) - simply stepping outside resets the brain.
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Reduced stress/anxiety (17%) - movement releases tension faster than almost anything else.
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A sense of achievement (12%) - progress builds confidence.
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Distraction (12%) - moving your body often quiets your mind.
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Routine and structure (11%) - exercise gives the day a meaningful anchor.
Put simply: exercise supports mental health because it reconnects us with the basics — breath, movement, environment, and purpose.
So… Which Exercise Works Best?
We dug deeper by asking people who engage in different types of activity to score how much each one helped their mental health. The results were fascinating.
Running ranked #1 with an average score of 7.65/10, narrowly beating swimming (7.59). Golf followed closely, with racket sports and cycling rounding out the top five.
I love that running came out on top - not because it’s glamorous or exclusive, but because it’s the opposite. Running is democratic. Accessible. Simple. You can do it anywhere, at any pace, with no special gear.
Why Running Works So Well
Running forces presence. It’s one of the rare moments in modern life where you aren’t being pulled in five directions at once.
It’s just you:
Your breath.
Your rhythm.
Your thoughts.
Your surroundings.
It’s mindfulness in motion.
And with running, progress compounds. One run becomes two. Ten minutes becomes twenty. A 5k becomes a first trail run. Each little win matters - and for those managing stress, anxiety, or depression, these wins are transformative.
And Here’s the Catch:
You can only look after your mind if your body allows you to move.
Something as tiny as a blister, cracked skin, or irritated muscles can take you out of the game for days or even weeks — right when you need movement most.
That’s exactly why I built The Feets.
Your feet carry your goals. They carry your stress. They carry your sanity some days.
So looking after them is looking after your mind.
Practical Ways to Stay Moving (and Protect Your Feet While You Do)
Here are a few simple, high-impact routines I recommend:
- Use our blister prevention balm before every run – it’s all-natural, long-lasting, and stops friction before it starts.
- Massage tired muscles with our soothing muscle rub – a 100% natural cure for sore calves and overworked feet.
- Keep your skin healthy with our active foot repair and moisturising cream – avoiding cracked heels and irritation means avoiding unexpected downtime.
- Sprinkle our anti-fungal powder after training – because nothing derails consistency like athlete’s foot.
Each of these takes less than 30 seconds, but they keep you doing the thing that’s doing so much good for your mind.
Keep Moving, Keep Protecting Your Mind
Exercise, and especially running, is one of the clearest, simplest, most accessible ways to support mental wellbeing. It’s not about being the fastest or the strongest. It’s about showing up for yourself. One run, one walk, one step at a time.
This World Mental Health Day, I’d encourage you to keep moving - and to protect the feet that help you keep going.
Your body will thank you. Your mind will thank you. Your future self will thank you. So go get it!
Logan
