Hot Girl Walks: the art of disconnecting to reconnect

I am positive that by now we have all heard of the concept of a “Hot Girl Walk”. 

A concept coined by TikTok users took storm by promoting walking multiple miles at an accelerated pace as the ideal hot girl workout. 

But this is not a new concept, and in fact walking as a form of exercise is not the only benefit to walking. 

At a much more conscious level, I am sure that after you walk you feel lighter and calmer, at least I do. But this is no coincidence or placebo effect. 

According to the Better Health Channel, walking at least 30 minutes a day can not only aid in weight loss and cardiovascular health, but decrease anxiety and depression. The simple act of walking can also improve your mood, cognitive functions, and boost the creativity and problem-solving areas of our brain. 

So, putting aside all desires can truly be your best friend. 

Personally, going on long walks helps me decompress. By having some time to myself to just think and sort my ideas from the day, I am always better able to regulate my emotions and organize my commitments if I have gone on a walk and just disconnected. 

Often these days we turn to our phones to answer all our life questions, replacing social media for an answer that must come from within. 

Self-reflection is a vital part of life. It is impossible to understand why you do everything you do, and that shouldn’t be your goal. However, if you are unable to understand what you feel, the answer may be closer than you think. 

In a generation that suffers so deeply from mental health issues, I think it is important to acknowledge the benefit of medical approaches, but not to overlook more holistic approaches that you can implement in your daily life. 

Alongside our phones causing the deterioration of mental health, they are also contributing to the deterioration of social interaction, but walking has a cure for that as well.

I think that if I could pick one activity for the rest of my life, it would be a debrief walk with my friend. Sometimes all we truly need is someone to tell us that it is ok, and that our feelings and opinions are valid.  While I think a more seasoned thinker could come to that reassurance on their own, there is absolutely nothing wrong with talking things through with a trusted friend. 

If walking alone feels too daunting or you lack motivation, make a hangout out of it. Any amount you disconnect and walk is better for you than none. 

You can make this as simple or as complicated as you want. A walk around the block, or the three mile walk downtown to fetch a coffee along the way. The beautiful thing about walking is there is always more to go, and if you feel overwhelmed just turn around. 

So, grab your best walking shoes, your headphones (if you like to have a soundtrack to your life like I do) and an open mind. Then it is just one foot in front of another. I promise each step you take, your mental load will get a bit lighter and your breath a little deeper. Let that walk serve as a reminder that nothing is ever too far to get yourself out of.