A Reflection: Why Walking Everyday is Beneficial
By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24
With school, exams, extracurriculars, and social life, there is always so much going on. One minute you have to do a homework assignment, and another you have to run to a club meeting. But do you ever have a moment where you do absolutely nothing? The moment where you don’t think about all the things you have to do and simply just live in the moment?
I tried walking everyday and this became a source of therapy for me. What I realized is that by setting aside time — regardless of if it’s a 10 minute, a 30 minute, or an hour walk — I bring myself to the present: something incredibly hard for me to do.
I get so wrapped up in stress or activities that I forget I need to clear my mind to the point where there is absolutely nothing I am thinking about. By taking a 30 minute walk everyday, I bring myself to enjoy the moment and observe what is around me. For instance, I take a walk some mornings or evenings on campus. I have the chance to admire USC’s architectural buildings because they are gorgeous, and I am grateful to go to such a nice school. However, when I am in a rush to walk to a class or meeting, I never have time to enjoy the moment because I am so focused on getting to my destination. Finding a place to walk on campus or anywhere else is a great way to start admiring what is around you and discover things you might have been missing on your way to class, even if only for a few minutes.
At first, getting out of the house and finding time to walk was a struggle for me. But one day, I just went out and did it. At first, all I did was think: my head was full of thoughts and stress and anxiety. However, I noticed that the more I made walking a daily habit, the more I got used to those thoughts being there, but not obsessing over them. I simply dealt with them later and made time and space for myself to come to the present. I admired the environment around me and began to love going on walks more and more. It got to the point where I’d go on 2 to 3 hour walks when I wanted to destress and escape my head.
Walking does not need to be silent as well. When I tell my friends that I go on 2-3 hour walks, they say they could never handle that much silence. However, it does not always need to be silent. I’m either listening to a podcast or music when I walk and it zones me out of whatever I was thinking about. Sometimes I go on walks with friends, but we aren’t talking. We both listen to our own music, but enjoy the company and being with the person.
Walking has been my number one way to destress and come to terms with the here and now. While it may sound unappealing to set aside time to just walk around campus or your neighborhood — besides the obvious physical health benefits — it is helpful in bringing yourself to a singular moment where you can enjoy your surroundings. Make walking a routine and you’ll definitely see the benefits of centering yourself in the present.
If you are looking for a playlist to listen to while walking, go find some artist recommendations from Lanie Brice.
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