I’m into nature and walking now. Not that I wasn’t before, especially in the past four years or so, but I’m getting even more enthused.

Mind you, I’ve always been into walking. But…I also thought it wasn’t a good enough ‘real workout’ for me because I’m thin. Apparently, the more fit and thin you are, the more you need intensity to lose lbs. Casual walking never did much for me in terms of burning anything. 

Increased Intensity

Enter…power walking.

I used to think brisk walking was ridiculous. My rationale was that if you’re going to walk that fast, you may as well run. And I do run. I’ve been a casual runner for most of my adult life, with completion of three half-marathons and three marathons between 2006 and 2011, all in Houston and Austin, all run at a “normal person” pace.  

Now I’m adding power walking to the mix, throwing “if you’re gonna walk that fast, you may as well run” to the wind. This is because there are benefits to walking fast. 

Why walk fast?

One is variety. When it comes to workouts, I’ve always had trouble incorporating variety. There have been two workouts I’ve leaned on heavily: 1) the step bench and one lb weights and…2) cardio (usually running or equivalent plyometrics).

Fast walking or power walking allows for an intense workout different from the other two. There’s also less pounding on the joints.

I think not having a debilitating physical issue so far in my exercise life (save minor hip pain for six months circa 2011 that didn’t keep me from running) has given me false confidence that I’ll never get an injury. But it may be only a matter of time. It’s said that no matter how sturdy you are or think you are, if you run for enough years, you will have an injury at some point.

Many exercise gurus believe it’s worth it to actively preserve your body – go lighter at times – even if you’ve yet to have an issue. The idea is that it’s better to extend how long you can be active than to risk shortening it by going hard all the time, getting an injury that prevents you from exercising at all, and then feeling miserable that you’re immobile when your heart and mind are still quite motivated to move.

Outside

I should mention that I specifically want to walk outside now. Previously I didn’t care about the context or environment of my walking; I was content to go mall walking or hit the pavement along the path of a shopping center with Target, Best Buy, Old Navy, or whatever other stores. That was fine, but all I saw were stores, merchandise, concrete, and buildings. Now, because I’ve simultaneously gained a desire to take in more nature (trees, the blue sky, birds chirping, dirt, lakes, ponds, plants, flowers, grass, bushes, leaves on trees rustling in the wind), I want to be outside. Walking in green spaces accomplishes two important objectives: 1) getting exercise (whether power walking or casual walking) and 2) nurturing brain health by taking in nature. 

Since much is already written about the health benefits of time spent in nature, especially for your brain, this blog post isn’t meant to go in-depth about that. Furthermore, I’m no expert. However, I’m aware of and believe in these benefits: escaping four walls, getting natural light, and taking in green spaces positively affects your mood and reduces your stress levels.

Very different from the old me

It’s incredible that I’ve come to a place of appreciating nature so much. In the past, I was very dismissive of time spent outside; I didn’t think it was necessary; I touted myself as a city girl who preferred to be inside coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, lecture halls, clothing stores, etc. I told myself I did not need to go to parks, have a yard, nurture plants, or go camping. I hated bugs, insects, and sticky/moist outside air. Moreover, when I was inside at home or anywhere else, I preferred dark or dim lighting and would use lamps if I wanted light. (I thought bright natural light lit up flaws on faces, teeth, hair, etc., which made me feel exposed and insecure but was also simply too blinding. I was this way for a long time.) 

As I get older, I crave natural light, sunshine, plants, trees, grass, bushes, flowers, lakes, ponds, blue sky, etc. As such, when I get into my new apartment complex that, unfortunately, does not have as much green space as my current place, I plan to compensate by getting more plants for my balcony. I’ll also get my fix with intentional nature walks each day. Note: Nature walks don’t have to mean fully wooded, forest areas, though sometimes that. If a city or suburban path I walk on has plenty of green trees, bushes, and grass to look at, I count that as a nature walk even if it’s not the most ideal. I would need to “settle” for that sometimes because of time constraints and the desire to preserve gas, since in my city, getting to the good parks means driving to them.

Helps with headaches

Another possible benefit: I think the combination of taking in nature and unplugging from devices has helped with the headaches I was getting for a while. In “unplugging from devices,” I don’t listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook – all things I used to do to “multi-task,” “not waste time,” “be doubly productive,” “always be learning,” etc. The more mindful me just walks, takes in the environment, and is present with my thoughts. I can’t say for sure that nature walks are stopping the headaches, but in the past six weeks in which I’ve gone on nature walks that are also unplugged, I haven’t gotten one. Coincidence? I don’t know, but I plan to keep doing what I’m doing. 

I’ve been unplugging more and more, even when not on walks, out of instinctual need but also because I’ve listened to many brain health segments on YouTube that recommend “brain breaks” and “screen breaks” wherein we give ourselves a reprieve from concentration, sensory input, scrolling on our phones, listening to music, news, a podcast, a book, a video, etc. Instead, we are just…present…in our environment and with our thoughts.

A break from social media

I love social media, technology, and devices way too much to be a person who deactivates all her socials, won’t look at her phone from 7 pm to the following morning at 7, or doesn’t listen to podcasts/audiobooks/videos or surf the internet. Fortunately, I don’t think those tech denials are necessary. Simply unplugging for periods of time is enough.

I’ve made it a habit now and I intend to keep it up. I think some people think that this is a waste of time because you could be learning something in that hour, reading something, or messaging a friend. Yes, you could, and those are worthwhile ways to spend time. But taking a real break helps you do those things better, with less fatigue and weariness. I think a minimum of one hour of unplugging each day, preferably in nature and preferably on a walk, is worth it.