Walking in Silence: A Path to Mental Clarity and Creativity
Image generated with OpenAI by the Author
Walks bring that little extra to your day.
A quiet walk brings more. Our days are filled with the noise of work and home life. Quiet time has become rarer. If we have time to ourselves, we fill it with noise, social media, and mindless games.
I've come to understand the importance of quiet walks and the benefits they bring.
I've started taking walks for the basic health benefits. It gave me a little extra exercise and time to listen to podcasts and music. It also helps to reset my mind.
We don't give ourselves the time to enjoy the quiet.
How often do we do anything without some stimulation? Normally, I'll have my AirPods in listening to something. As I pass other walkers, I notice they are doing the same.
Technology is great, it allows us to take our music, podcasts, and audiobooks with us. Making it less and less likely that we go anywhere without a device providing entertainment.
On a recent trip with my wife to a local shrine, I found myself enjoying the quiet. The only sounds were the wind rustling through the trees and the birds chirping in them.
It was inspiring.
Taking all the noise out brought a calmness to my mind. This allowed my creativity to shine through, making me want to pull out a pen and paper. I didn't realize how much I needed the peace it brought to my mind and soul. The mental and health benefits of taking quiet walks are surprising.
Reduced Stress
Quiet walks have been shown to reduce stress.
Unplugging and enjoying the sunshine, along with nature, pulls you away from the demands of life. It gives you a break, one that you may not have realized you needed.
As I walked with my wife, I could feel both the personal and professional stresses melt away. It was freeing. I was so entranced in the moment, my wife thought I was bored.
I was hyper-aware of every little detail.
Enjoying the smallness of everything around me. The way the wind brushed the hair on my wife's head, the beautiful sights around us, and the feeling of gratitude for the day.
Improved Mood
Less stress leads to a better mood.
The openness that comes from a quiet walk brings an improved mood. If you add a little sunshine with nice weather, it enhances your positive outlook in the moment.
The past couple of weeks have been rough. I found myself dealing with some family health issues that weighed heavily on me. The quiet walk at the shrine brightened my mood exponentially. My wife even commented on how I seemed lighter as we left to head home.
Enhanced Focus
The lack of constant input directly in your ears puts you at another level of focus.
During the walk, I noticed little details of statues we'd come upon, how the trees moved in the wind, and how my wife reacted to the symbolism in the statues emotionally with the subtlest detail.
I was hyper aware.
It's amazing how focused you become when you don't have constant noise and distraction.
Boosted Creativity
Your ability to think becomes stronger during quiet walks, bringing more creativity.
I felt inspired with each step through the shrine. As I have already said, I wanted to take a pen and paper out to write while there.
As you take quiet walks, any cloudiness in your head dissipates. You're able to think more clearly. As your thoughts wander, creativity has room to grow.
The ability to escape work and your problems gives your mind the break it needs to help you find solutions. It's similar to when you're in the shower thinking about something completely different, and BOOM, an idea for a solution just hits you.
Creativity is more than something for an artist or writer, it's used for problem solving, work, and business.
Health Benefits
A little bonus for quiet walks, health benefits.
Not only does it keep your mind strong, but it also strengthens the body.
Here are just a few health benefits:
Reduced Muscle Tension
Decreased Blood Pressure
Regulated Breathing
Decreased Heart Rate
Improved Sleep
Feeling physically good improves your mental health. They go hand in hand.
Discovering the benefits of quiet walks has changed my walking routine. I now make it a point to take a quiet walk a couple of times a week. Not headphones, podcasts, audiobooks, or any other input.
Just me and nature.
After that trip, I was ready to get back to all life had to throw at me with a lot more vigor.
I suggest you give it a try.
What do you have to lose?
Let me know if you take regular quiet walks and the benefits they bring to your day.
