Let’s go for a walk!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find it all too easy to get caught up in the rush and overwhelm of day to day life. I get distracted by my to-do list and forget to appreciate all the wonderful things that surround me every single day. 

Now, as you all know, I'm a huge nature girl. I may not have been born to the mountains, but I got here as fast as I could! I spend at least a week every year backpacking in some remote wilderness as a way to recharge and reset. Taking this time to slow down and savor kicks my happiness up a notch and helps me feel more grateful and appreciate the things I have (like toilet paper!) even more.

But you don't have to wait for an annual vacation to get that boost. 

Take a savoring walk.

In a study done at Loyola University, participants who focused on positive things while walking for 20 minutes every day for 1 week reported a larger increase in happiness at the end of the week compared to participants who did a daily walk with no particular focus.

Here's how to do it:

Set aside 20 minutes to take a walk outside by yourself every day for a week. Try to stick to this schedule unless the weather's really bad. You can still do this exercise in a light rain—just grab your most fabulous umbrella and a rain jacket.

As you walk, try to notice as many positive things around you as you can. These can be sights, sounds, smells, or other sensations. For example, you could focus on the breathtaking height of a tree you never really noticed before, the intricate architecture of a building on your block, the dance of sunshine off a window or puddle, the smell of grass or flowers, or the way other people look out for each other as they navigate crowded streets.

As you notice each of these positive things, acknowledge each one in your mind—don’t just let them slip past you. Pause for a moment as you hear or see each thing and make sure it registers with your conscious awareness, really take it in. Try to identify what it is about that thing that makes it pleasurable to you.

Try to walk a different route each day so you don’t become too accustomed to any of these things and start to take them for granted.

Ok, I gotta scoot and go for a walk!

Tell me how your walk went in the comments. I can't wait to hear about it!