Walking is the most underrated skill

On average, children take their first steps on their own at the age of 12 months. It is one of the first skills we learn. Perhaps that is why its so underrated?

Walking is more than just a transport system for our bodies from point A to point B. Transportation in itself is very valuable —you know if you’ve ever had to walk with crutches or been in a wheelchair. However, the real power in walking is how it changes your mood.

I can’t say for sure how it works — probably something about blood circulation, fresh air and lack of screen time — but when you go for a walk the mind is free. If you’re tired, a 15 minute walk will often fix it. If you’re facing some difficult problems they sometimes seem easier to handle if you go for a walk. Ideas and feelings come in a more natural way when you are walking. These effects seem to last as long as you can keep up walking without getting hungry or tired. I prefer less than 1 hour walks but to get out in nature you often have to do more than that.

At this point I think its important to mention that walking in a hurry to the train while on your way to work doesn’t count. For some reason the mind cannot be still enough in those moments . I find it best when you walk at a leisure pace — whatever that is for you — as long as you don’t have to hurry to be someplace else.

Simply sober walking. Almost everyone can do it — yet few do, except to get from A to B. Its too simple, so hard to believe the benefits. Instead we like to think of ourselves as complex beings that require complex solutions. Perfect diet, elaborate workout schemes… Those work too but require too much energy to be reliable in the long run (no pun intended). Enjoy walking!

Additionally, walking with a friend or two allows for a flow of discussion that is hard to surpass. Only coffee dates produce a more reliable effect (depending on how heavy coffee drinker I am at the moment, though).