02 Jan Go For a Walk
Going for a walk as Self-Care
I go for a walk almost every day. It has become foundational to my health and wellbeing. It is a simple self-care practice that is free and brings many benefits.
There are many different ways to go for a walk. For me, it is a flexible way to engage with my body, surroundings, nature and community. Walking is often a necessity to take us from A to B, where other transport is not available. It may also be a choice as a leisure activity. Sometimes it may include an intentional element – a goal, a pilgrimage, an act of remembrance. It can be social, therapeutic, for health, sport or simply for pleasure.
Developing a Walking Practice for Health
I began walking while travelling, as a way to explore and get to know a new place. When I arrive somewhere unknown, I like to walk to locate myself and map my surroundings. It gives me a way to discover an area, and to travel from one location to another.
I was recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome when my regular walking experiments began. I started going for a walk every day. I began to extend the distance I could comfortably manage to walk. My fitness and walking capacity gradually increased. I had time but little money, and as I walked more, I saved money on bus fares and soaked up more daylight, which improved my winter seasonal low.
I wanted to maintain my growing health and mobility. So, I began to go for the same walk every day. I borrowed a dog, which helped me have a reason to walk. It worked. I kept going for a walk whatever the weather. I noticed that by going for an early walk, I caught a morning surge of energy that I could surf throughout the day.
There are many health benefits of going for a walk. My feet stay warmer after a walk as my circulation works better for the whole day. Going for a walk when it is wet or cold improves my resilience to cold, and I suspect strengthens my immune system.
Going for a walk to other places increases my walkable range, combines with necessary tasks and keeps me active. I count my steps with an App on my phone, which creates an incentive to increase my steps. There are many benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day if you are able. Walking backwards can be positive too, increasing balance and muscle tone.
I have a basic daily walking loop. I extend the length at weekends, on beautiful days and when my time and energy permit. I also go for a walk instead of taking a bus when I can. Time with friends is often spent going for a walk, rather than sitting together.
Connecting With Nature Through Walking
I have been going for a walk most days for over twenty years. I no longer have a dog to walk, but often share my daily perambulation with people. My basic loop continues to delight me. I have grown familiar with the way it changes through the seasons and in different weathers.
My relationship with nature has transformed through this repeated encounter with the same landscape. I have come to know particular paths, trees, a river, and birds. I am getting to know the plants that populate my route through slow-growing familiarity. There are lots of Apps to identify wildlife. Pausing to listen to the variety of bird song can open up my ears to the sky.
Going for an Intentional Walk
I enjoy going for an intentional walk when I have more time. This might be to follow a designated route of special interest. There are many urban and rural routes that feature beautiful landscapes or historical features. Sometimes I walk through my own history. I recently walked from my birth place to my current home.
I have walked along rivers to visit their source, tracked culverts and found outflows into a bigger river or sea. I have walked to visit ancient trees. Sometimes I go for a walk with a friend to experience their special places. From time to time I go for a memorial walk to the place where a parent or pet is scattered. I have been on architectural walks at night-time, and cultural walks to discover more about the history of a place.
I also enjoy ‘psycho-drifting’ (or derive) – just following my nose along an evolving route as a creative exploration. This is a core practice of psychogeography. It can be a great way to meander. It involves letting go of habitual orientation and allowing the stimuli of the surroundings to emerge and inspire. Sometimes I do this as an ‘Artist’s date’ – spending time with myself to find creative inspiration. It can be fun to have a random walk, tossing a coin at each junction to decide the way forward, inspired by ‘The Dice Man’.
Sometimes I take an ‘Omen’ walk with a question in mind. I look out for signs, symbols, creatures and encounters which may add meaning to my inquiry. Inspired by an ancient path or site, I enjoy going for a pilgrimage walk to a meaningful destination. I am a fan of Julian Cope’s ‘Modern Antiquarian’. He shares his unique perspective on the ancient megalithic sites of the UK and Europe. I reach for his commentary when I find myself in the countryside near ancient historical sites. I may encounter a tree with prayer tokens or ‘clooties’ like the one I found here at Coldrum Longbarrow in Kent.
Walking to Weave Community
Whether I am walking a well-trodden route through wild countryside, or going for a walk through urban back-streets, the practice connects me with the land. Going for a walk grounds me, and helps to centre me. I notice that I feel more disconnected and out of sorts on days when I haven’t had the opportunity to go for a walk.
By going for a walk, I also feel woven into relationship with my environment. My daily loop brings me into regular contact with many familiar faces. We smile, say “Good Morning” or “Hi!” Sometimes we stop to notice the weather or share a story. I increase my relationship with the ‘spirit of place’ through going for a walk in my neighbourhood. It feels especially important that I meet people in this way who are different to me, and whom I might not come into contact with in other social settings.
There are lots of walking groups of people who want to meet others and walk together. The Ramblers’ Association is a charity that supports connection through walking, alongside an appreciation for the natural environment.
It is through the practice of going for a walk that I become more sane, enjoying the many ways walking connects me. I often walk with a question, or a problem, and a creative response or solution comes as my feet beat their rhythm on the ground. I breathe more deeply, circulate my blood, inhale the rich smells of composting leaf or flowing water. I feel held by the earth, feel the wisdom of trees, ponder the patterns of history, or deepen my relationship with a friend.
Go for a Walk
Going for a walk gives me a supportive way to increase my wellbeing. To stay in balance our nervous system needs both up-regulation and down regulation. We need both active practices like walking, and also restorative practices that allow us to receive and drop into deep rest. As an important part of my self-care routine it feels both profound and simple to go for a walk. It might be fast or slow, serious or playful, long or short. I invite you to experiment and go for a walk.
Sarah Pletts is a Grief Tender and Artist who offers workshops in London and online, sharing rituals where grief on all themes is welcome. For more information about Grief Tending events see here.
