by Madeleine Burke

It’s easy for life to feel as though it’s impossible to manage, but how much easier would our lives be if we simply walked more? We often see walking as a burden.  Making claims such as, “Ugh I have to get up?” “Why is this so far away?” However, the concept we view as a burden has many benefits under the surface.

Walking not only gives us physical exercise, it calms the mind as well. Putting one foot in front of the other, the mind can easily focus on what it knows best, eliminating stress. When we are walking, the world feels like our oyster. We know how to do it, we often know where to go, and you don’t have to put much thought into doing it. When I personally find myself stuck on an essay for school, I take my dog for a walk. I find that after walking, when I sit back down at my computer my mind is clearer and the task becomes easier. 

Charles Dickens once wrote, “If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish.” He was spot on. Walking is a gift given to humans, not only for transportation but for mental survival as well. We have to stop treating our ability to walk as a means to an end, it is so much more than that. The next walk you take could change everything for you, so the next time you feel stuck on that homework assignment, go for a walk and see how your mind becomes calm. 

Works Cited:

Benefits of Walking: Reasons Why Walking Is So Good For Your Mental Health

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/opinion/walking-mindfulness-benefits.html