Why cold, rainy walks are good for you

And why we’re spending thousands to keep our dog alive

Let’s not talk about the absolute state of Noushi’s harness…

Noushi had dental work last week. She’s also got yet another mast cell tumour which needs removing, and we’ve now got thousands of pounds worth of vet bills to pay. Because of this, I have been reflecting on the many benefits to having a dog, and reminding myself that my canine companion is very much worth the expense! One of the main upsides for me is that Noush gets me out for a walk twice a day. I work from home on my own and, if I didn’t have a dog, I could easily go for days without leaving the house… despite the fact I enjoy walking, I love nature and I know getting outside does me a world of good. I also have a dog who refuses to use our garden as a toilet, so we have to go out, no matter what the weather is doing. Lately, this has meant Noushi and I have shared a lot of cold, rainy, muddy walks. Luckily, I quite like being out in a downpour, and I was pleased to be informed recently that walking in the rain is actually good for you!

You know me by now, so it won't surprise you to hear that after Rosanna told me this fact, I got curious and looked it up. Here’s an excerpt from a Guardian article I found, written by Annabel Streets, author of 52 Ways to Walk:

The pounding of raindrops causes plants, trees and soil to release sweet-smelling compounds which then mingle and combine in the air we breathe. The Scottish writer, Nan Shepherd, loved walking after rainfall, noting that birch trees released a perfume “fruity like old brandy”. Studies suggest that inhaling these compounds improves our mood, while the abundance of negative air ions – created as water and air molecules collide making a molecule with an extra charge – can improve respiratory health and immunity. When Austrian scientists ran a series of experiments in the Alps, they were stunned to find that participants walking in heavily ionised air had higher levels of a vital antibody located in the mucosal lining of the mouth, nose and gut. The researchers speculated that this bounteous antibody accounted for the participants’ strengthened immunity and amplified lung capacity.

The air does feel different when it’s raining, doesn’t it? Apparently, through a process called coagulation (say it out loud, it’s fun!), rain droplets actually attract aerosols out of the atmosphere, making the air we breathe cleaner on rainy days! 

Speaking of words that are fun to say - how about ‘petrichor’? It’s the word used to describe the smell of rain hitting the ground. According to the Met Office,

“the phrase was coined by two researchers at the Australian CSIRO science agency in a 1964 article for the journal Nature”.

“The word comes from the Greek words 'petra', meaning stone, and 'ichor', which in Greek mythology refers to the golden fluid that flows in the veins of the immortals.”

Blimey!

Anyway, I fear if I didn’t have Noushi I could easily end up hibernating through winter, which would be a real shame, as on my chilly walks with her, I so often find myself mesmerised. Frosty leaves crunching underfoot, bejewelled cobwebs catching my eye or steam rising off fence posts on a foggy morning… There’s so much to be enjoyed when it’s cold outside. 

The bare trees mean I’m more likely to spot birds too – recently I’ve mostly noticed fat robins who’d look very at home on Christmas cards. At this time of year, there are interesting winter visitors to look out for too, like redwings, barnacle geese and waxwings. But, if I’m honest, I’ve not really been noticing much new these past few weeks. I’ve found it difficult to switch off at all, even on walks, so I’m even more grateful for anything that momentarily distracts me from my own thoughts and brings me a fleeing moment of awe. Thank you, little robin.

It’s safe to say that Rosanna’s comment about walking in the rain sent me down a rabbit hole. There I discovered more studies, which showed getting out in cold temperatures could improve our immune system, help us think more clearly, boost our energy and reduce stress. I think my mum, who is currently obsessed with cold water swimming, would probably attest to all of the above. Tell us your thoughts in the comments Mum, I know you’re reading this!

In all weathers, a journey outside can be good for the soul. Alice Vincent posted a gorgeous article this week about the chats she’s had with strangers on the bus since having her son – something that comes as a surprise when you’ve been used to Londoners completely ignoring each other on the tube!

“I exist in a different plane of the city now, one made of buggies and carers and more vulnerable people, whose days don’t take place in offices or after hours. We ride the buses, we squeeze into the bit for wheelchairs and prams, we sit alongside the wheeled shoppers and suitcases, we sing to our fractious babies and let them starfish their hands at the steamed-up windows. We talk to one another.”

Last week I got on the bus and witnessed a scene very similar to the ones Alice describes - a mum and her toddler had an extremely wholesome interaction with a grandmother and a baby… right before the bus driver broke hard, causing the mum to fall on me. Thankfully I was well padded with tote bags filled with charity shop scores. Anyway, where were we?...

I don’t have a baby, and that bus journey was a rare one for me, but I do have a dog. And a beautiful dog at that. It shouldn’t surprise me, since Noushi’s name when we adopted her was ‘Beauty’, but strangers literally catcall her from across the road, I’ve never known anything like it. I’m an introvert, but I’m also an incredibly curious person who is fascinated by other people. Noushi gives me an excuse to interact with strangers, something I’d be very unlikely to do otherwise. On my dog walks I’ve met neighbours who have lived in the same place for decades and can teach me about the history of my home, shop owners who have immigrated to the UK (just as Noushi did from Morocco), pizza chefs, film makers, architects, actors, activists, foragers, children of all ages… oh and some really good friends. Not to mention all of the other dogs I get to know.

We published a story in the latest issue of The Happy Newspaper that touched on a number of studies showing that getting out and interacting with people and their pets in our neighbourhoods can also have positive benefits for our health…

This newsletter has become far longer than I intended it to be, so I’ll wrap it up here, before I also wrap myself up several layers in preparation for my next dog walk. I wonder what we’ll notice out there in the cold…

If you’re able, I encourage you to get outside this weekend too - embrace the chilly temperatures, feel the rain on your skin and find some frost.

---

You can now pay me for my time, if you have the means to do so…

P.s. I wasn't planning to turn on payments in Substack until some time in 2024, but since I’ve now mentioned my extortionate vet bills I may as well do some shameless begging. For the reasons listed above (and more), I really would like to keep Noushi alive as long as possible. Now that I’ve turned payments on, you have the option to support me with £3.50 a month, or £30 a year. I want these emails to be accessible to everybody who is interested in them, so I don’t have any plans to hide articles behind a paywall. That being said, some of these articles take bloody ages to write, so if you CAN afford to pay me for my writing (and my research rabbit holes), please consider doing so. If you don’t have the funds to pay anything right now, don’t worry, someone else who can afford to pay has got your back! I know times are tough and mid December is the worst time to ask anyone for any money, so please do not feel obliged. No matter what, thank you for being here, reading my words, commenting and sharing. Keep letting me know what you’re interested in, what you’ve noticed in nature and what you’d like to learn about. I’ll keep trying to deliver something of value into your inboxes 

---

By the way, if you need some Happy News in your life, you can subscribe or buy back issues of this positive news publication at thehappynewspaper.com (I don’t get any money for this, I’m just the editor and think we are all in need of some cheer righ now).

---

You Might Also Like…