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Strong Women
Hop on the silent walking trend: how TikTok’s latest spin on walking can boost creativity and lower stress levels
By Anna Bartter
Updated 2 years ago
4 min read
We’ve had soft hiking, and now there’s a new walking craze in town: silent walking. Here’s everything you need to know about the trend, which promises to calm racing minds and stressed bodies.
Another day, another TikTok walking trend. We’ve seen soft hiking, hot girl walking and 12-3-30, but there’s a new kid in town – and this one ramps up the mental health benefits we associate with the humble stroll.
Enter: silent walking. We’re all used to hearing people chatting on their phones or even playing music (loudly) as they stride from A to B, and it’s standard practice for us to pack our earbuds so we can listen to a podcast on a hike. But it seems there’s also a desire for a quieter approach, with #SilentWalking racking up almost 400,000 views on TikTok in the last week alone.
Here’s a quick guide to what silent walking is and why you might want to give it a try. Your eardrums can thank us later.
What is silent walking?
Credit: Getty
It’s fairly self-explanatory: it’s walking, but with only the sound of your footsteps alongside you. Yep, you read that right – this is walking, but not as we know it. In direct contrast to a hot girl walk, where headphones feature heavily, there’s no music here, and no chatting – not even a podcast to keep you company.
What, no headphones at all?
Yes – that’s the whole point.
Helen Garlick runs coastal writing retreats and always includes a silent walk activity, with participants encouraged to focus instead on what they can hear, smell, see and feel.
“For me, it’s a form of mindful walking – a personal and practical way to relax and help me be present in the now,” she tells Stylist. “Silent walking helps me feel much more connected and in tune with my environment.”
Flora Harris, sports and swimwear buyer at Pour Moi, is another fan of silent walking. “For many Gen Zs and millennials this can feel quite daunting,” she acknowledges. “We’re very attached to our headphones, but the benefits of ditching the background noise can be significant.”
What are the benefits of the silent walking trend?
We’re well acquainted with the benefits of walking for mental and physical health, and silent walking encompasses all of these, from improved cardiovascular health to increased lifespan and more. But it comes with the added mental health boost of silence.
In an increasingly noisy world, the power of silence is often overlooked. But studies show that even just two minutes of silence significantly reduces heart rate and blood pressure, while noisy environments raise levels of our stress hormone (cortisol) and make it difficult for us to concentrate.
And certainly, TikTok agrees, with fans of the trend commenting that silent walking helps them to problem solve and boosts their creativity. The argument is that rather than being bombarded with stimuli, silent walks mean our brains can focus and are less distracted.
“Leaving technology behind and walking in silence enables you to drop down into a deeper level of consciousness,” says Garlick. “It also allows us to tune into our creative and instinctive selves, which is so often drowned out in everyday life.”
Credit: Getty
How to get started with silent walking
It really can be as simple as lacing up your trainers and leaving the house – without your headphones.
Be aware that if you’re not used to silence, it might feel a little strange to begin with. But if you lean into the discomfort, you might start to enjoy it.
Your walks might feel longer – but that’s ok
“Without the distractions you’re used to, it’s likely that your regular walk will feel longer,” says Harris. “This is totally normal, and over time you’ll get used to the feeling of not being as distracted. If at first, you’re finding you slip into boredom, then try shortening your walks a little and then building up your distance again after you’ve got used to silent walking.”
Help! I’m addicted to my headphones. How can I enjoy a silent walk?
The key here is to try the trend in short bursts at first.
“If the thought of heading outside without your headphones fills you with dread, then it can be easy to put off your silent walk,” acknowledges Harris. “To make the prospect more appealing, set yourself a more bitesized challenge when you begin. For example, it might be to walk for a certain length of time or do a certain number of laps of your favourite park. The key is to make sure it’s shorter than a walk you would normally do, so it feels more manageable.”
Leaving technology behind and walking in silence enables you to drop down into a deeper level of consciousness
Helen Garlick
Vary your route to keep things interesting
Without your favourite podcast or playlist, you might worry about feeling bored on your walk. But being bored won’t hurt you – and it might even be good for your brain. Neuroscientists extol the virtues of boredom for brain health, believing that it boosts creativity and improves social connections.
And if you do get bored, rest assured that it’s kind of the point and shows you’ve disconnected from outside stimuli. Go with it, and make sure you take a different route each time you go so you’re noticing new things each and every walk – it’ll help keep you motivated.
Images: Getty
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