Introduction
I recently moved, and I ended up returning to a city I used to live in. Since I’m familiar with the area, there’s a sense of comfort, but at the same time, because it has been a while, even the streets and scenery that used to feel familiar now seem a little fresh again. Walking has already been part of my daily routine, and as I mentioned briefly in a previous article, since moving back, I’ve been enjoying it even more than before.
These days, I work almost entirely remotely, and because of that, I’ve come to feel that walking has various benefits. Today, I’d like to write about the value of walking and some of the things I’ve been noticing again lately.
Getting Sunlight Helps Me Refresh My Mind
As I mentioned a little in a previous article, I feel that getting sunlight is important as a way to refresh myself mentally. Since I work remotely, I could easily stay inside all day if I wanted to. But when I remain indoors for too long, I sometimes start to feel mentally stuck, and both my mind and body can begin to feel heavy. At those times, simply going outside for a walk can make a surprisingly big difference.
I’m not an expert, so I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard that exposure to sunlight can help promote the production of serotonin and vitamin D, which may help people feel a bit more positive.
Recently, I’ve also been meeting friends during my walks or stopping by a café to see someone. These small outings also seem to help add some variety and rhythm to daily life.
Walking Is Just Right for Thinking
One of the nice things about walking is that it makes it easier to think. When I’m at home, I tend to prioritize work and tasks. But while I’m out walking, I obviously can’t really work at the same time. I’m away from the screens of my PC and phone, and there’s not much else to do while walking, so it naturally becomes time for thinking.
In fact, things that I couldn’t organize clearly while sitting at home sometimes start to make more sense when I’m walking. Ideas about problems I had been struggling with may come to mind, and sometimes new ideas appear as well. Of course, I do not make an amazing discovery every single time, but at the very least, I feel that walking gives my mind a chance to start moving a little.
It Does Not Require Any Special Preparation
Another appealing thing about walking is how easy it is to do. It costs almost nothing, and you do not need any special equipment. It is also flexible in terms of time: if you want to walk for a long time, you can, and if you are busy, you can just go for a short walk.
Another good point is that you can do it no matter where you live. Whether it is a new city or a place you used to live in, simply walking around lets you notice things a little differently. In that sense, I think walking is a very sustainable habit.
If I have enough time, I think it is also nice not only to walk around the city but to go farther out for a hike. Recently, I’ve been thinking about trying a trail in a nearby mountain area that I have never visited before.
Conclusion
I feel that walking is not just a form of exercise. It can also be a way to refresh yourself and organize your thoughts. Especially at a time like now, when I have returned to a place I used to live in, walking through places that should feel familiar has felt a little new again, and that has helped me rediscover the enjoyment of walking.
When your life revolves around remote work, it is easy to end up staying at home all the time. That is exactly why walking, which requires no special preparation and can be done even in a short amount of time, may be a more valuable habit than it first seems.
Thank you for reading!
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