The power of walking
What if walking actively could help you see your progress more mindfully?
I started two months ago a challenge of walking 10K to 20K steps, 5 to 6 days a week. I needed to find clarity in my projects but also be less in front of my desk. I had a simple solution within my reach, an effective solution on the mind and a low-impact exercise to get back to motion.
Walking, indeed!
More than two months into the challenge, I am focused and motivated. I have witnessed positive changes in my mood, mindset and daily work.
Walking more than 1 hour a day, to reach 10k steps and more has sharpened my clarity and helped in a better understanding of the meaning of progress.
Progress is one step at a time
Progress is the movement to an improved or more developed state, or to a forward position. We notice progress, we can measure it, we expect it and sometimes overlook it.
Walking shapes your progress, you feel better as you commit to it and your body and mood will send you the measures of your progress. When I started a few weeks in, I didn't expect much because it was just walking, but one day after the other I noticed a slight improvement in my focus, my problem-solving, and my capacity to reflect on things and situations.
Often we do not reckon the progress and efforts we put into a project or a goal, we are so engrossed in pushing further and doing more that we overlook what has been accomplished so far. I took notice of the efforts put into creative projects and realized that they have been tremendous and from the starting point to today, the evolution is to be acknowledged and celebrated as well.
Enjoy the Now
These daily active walks: discovering new paths and places, wandering and trying new combinations have helped me enjoy more the efforts and contentment of the Now. Expecting nothing more from this walk than the lightness of the mind, the need and will to seize more of the moment!
Infuse and boost your creativity
Day by day, my creativity is nourished by the observation of landscapes, flowers, architecture, graphic forms, colours..., and also the smiles and enthusiasm of other walkers and joggers.
I had paused my pencils because of more commercial projects, I missed the simplicity of sketching for myself. Walking has relighted my joy of drawing again. This summer, notebooks will be filled with doodles.
As a creative, I know about the imposter syndrome, I heal it the best I can and focus on who I am growing into. I believe walking has also given me the distance so as my creative career, choosing what makes me feel alive overall. Thanks to this simple challenge, my creativity has benefited from the calmness without any extra quest to achieve.
Being productive doing less
Walking is such a simple joy that we can use it anytime we need it. It gives me the clarity I need to keep on creating and thinking.
MILD (a typeface I was working on) was mostly completed during the last 2 months with this challenge. The courage to keep on corrections, resketching letters, and finding solutions when the process is so enduring, all that motivation was supported by my walking routine.
Projects you procrastinate on, or have put a hold on, could be reactivated thanks to this simple routine of walking more actively daily. The process of being in wander will also in the background activate plans, strategies, and thought processes you need to get closer to your goals. One step at a time you unfold solutions, and steps to take after your walk!
One thing I do prior to walking is to note on my phone a list of things I need to reflect on or find solutions on. I let my mind do the work while I enjoy walking. That is also the beauty of giving space to your mind to think because a lot of the time we get in the way and prevent a more fluid thought process.
Walking Culture
Walking is a human act of evolution. Our ancestors have walked the earth to expand and create the set of cultures we know today. Walking has been crucial in our explorations, interactions, our capacity to do commerce, and to create relationships to build and empower communities.
We are a unique species that has the mobility and flexibility to walk and use our arms for other activities. Walking is an act of freedom.
Politics
We know one act of political power: walking to defend our values and beliefs. We walk to manifest our disagreement, we walk for peace, we walk to celebrate, and we walk as a political tool.
It is always mind-blowing to see, oceans of people walking from all works of life, races, and religious background, walking together to defend a vision of society that celebrates togetherness, respect, love and hope for a better human experience.
Several causes have shed light on walking as a significant tool for change: the civil rights movement, women's right to vote, climate change, and black lives matter… the outcome of walking is not the debate here, but the act of choosing to walk alone or together in order to claim a point of view and vision we defend. Not every species has the ability to gather and union as one. Imagine if chimpanzees, birds, and bears started striking in the streets in order to protest about how ‘we’ as humans behave.
With great power comes great responsibility
Walking is not a common act, therefore we should be more mindful of it and act upon it with more respect and understanding.
Migration
A huge number of people use walking to migrate, not for leisure but for survival. We ought to be more understanding of circumstances and not forget that walking is the primary act of migration for a number of them. The difficulty of long walks, with the risks and discomfort implied by the environment. Walking is a symbol of getting to a better place.
Their act and only choice of walking are to be acknowledged and respected. We all walk to improve ourselves, our lives, and our future, no matter the end result we may encounter.
Philosophy of Walking
Philosophers have always used walking as a tool for a higher connection to their thinking. I remember the first time I studied Socrates, I was inspired and motivated by his act of walking around Athena, questioning and sensing the crowd as one of a kind. His act was and is a celebration of curiosity, a will to elevate and wake up the mind of people.
Walking is a philosophical act especially long walks and ventures in nature. Solitude in walking allows those reflections and dialogues to expand. Many books, articles, paintings, songs and more were projected and started on walks.
Friedrich Nietzsche was a philosopher who walks, he used to walk more than 7 hours a day. Stopping to take notes and write down ideas, it was in motion that he worked the best.
Walking becomes a work tool and routine that prepares a common ground for creativity and action.
Faith and spirituality
Several religions practice walking as a spiritual experience testing and revealing our inner core. I used to be a Christian and I remember the praise and call to walk, helping faith and resilience. Even today being more spiritual, I reckon the power of walking: spiritual enlightenment.
Getting up and walking is a genuine move for hope, walking has helped me align more with my inner self/higher self.
Those inner conversations needed in stillness are raised by the act of wander and motion. Clarity emerges as we move and observe our surroundings. Seneca talks about the art of idleness, such idleness is found in walking.
No matter your faith or religious values, walking is not an attribute of faith, but a human tool we are blessed with, a superpower we need to keep feeding and training.
The awe of seeing the world UP
It is beautiful to witness a baby doing his/her first steps. The parents are excited by the growth of their child and the baby is discovering he/she can also stand up and enjoy the world UP!
The moment of joy and understanding of a new perception of reality makes our human technology magical.
Children are super active, they walk and run around and their capacity to use this superpower doesn’t need a toolkit. It is rooted in their system; it is a natural impulse.
As we age we may mute that Hunch and impulse to walk but it is vital for our mental and physical health to keep walking.
Walk and infuse into your mind books, podcasts, music…
I use my walking routine to listen to interesting books, conversations, courses, and music… it becomes also a study time but in a fun and light way. I can infuse into my mind with ease data that would be more resistant while sitting and reading.
The book ‘’In praise of walking’’ by author Shane O’Mara is a great inspiration for me. He shares profound context to walking from science, art and beyond. It is a new study and angle of walking.
Music is such a powerful tool for walking, I use it as a context for a cinematographic walk. Sometimes I just enjoy the natural sound of nature and the city but I also enjoy the storytelling of a set of chosen songs and my walking attitude.
💡 Here are my top 15 songs for a cinematic walk
We will never know / Maurizio Malagnini
Opening titles / Rob Lane
Hold on tight / Thomas Azier
L'entretien des muses / Vikingur Olafsson
Plastic love / Mariya Takeuchi
Dindi / Vanessa Da Mata
Who Dat B / Jessi
We do / Super M
Mother nature / Angelique Kidjo
Distant past / Everything everything
Alma matters / Morrissey
Surprised by the joy / Richard Ashcroft
Toi et moi / Paradis
Tokai / Taeko Onuki
Silver lining / David Gray
💡 Tips on walking
Be equipped: good shoes/trainers, raincoat, water, earphones, music…
Walking in the morning or later in the day, no rules you adapt by following your schedule. It does demand adjustments and organizing your priorities as it is time-consuming but it is so worth it.
Standing up, even on your desk. I bought a standing desk support, and a little table allowing me to work UP. I do sessions of 20 minutes here and there, and I have seen a boost in my focus. I feel more alert and proactive.
When your body says: '’stop, it’s time to rest’’. Well, listen to your body! Like any other physical activity your body rules the recovery state, it has all the knowledge to inform you about your limits. Even if I want to reach my daily goals, sometimes I take days off. Adjusting to doing less today but going the extra mile tomorrow.
It is said walking 10k a day is good for our health. I believe it is just a number, I used to hit 6k for years as a plateau. I believe your body knows the rhythm you need. Even within a challenge you find your sweet spots and grow from there.
Great conversations on walking actively.
- In praise of walking
- A Philosophy of Walking: Thoreau, Nietzsche and Kant on Walking
- Walking and cardio
- Walking barefoot
- Les chemins de Compostelle
- Walking in silence
What are your experiences of walking, actively or not? Did you notice significant benefits? Feel free to share.
🎙I had an interesting and proactive talk with author Shane O’Mara on walking for a better life. You can listen to it here. I am sure it will broaden your vision of the art of walking.
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