Molly Hardwick
It’s January, arguably one of the more miserable winter months. It’s gloomy, dark, and incredibly cold. The mood boost from getting outdoors for fresh air is appealing, but the thought of the walk itself is not. How are we supposed to complete our ‘Hot Girl Walk’ under these conditions?
What is a ‘Hot Girl Walk’, you might ask, and when on Earth did such a simple form of exercise become trendy? Well, it’s a TikTok wellness trend which, as with most trends on the social media app, has generated a large amount of attention. It’s got Gen Z hooked, for sure!
TikTok creator @exactlyliketheothergirls refers to herself as the “creator of the Hot Girl Walk” and encourages followers to get into nature for a walk everyday. Her take of a daily walk is that it’s not about losing weight, but rather using time outdoors as a tool to boost mental health. While walking, she believes we should think of some things we’re grateful for that day, reiterate some of our goals, and listen to uplifting music. Essentially, she considers the ‘Hot Girl Walk’ as an opportunity to focus completely on ourselves for a short time every day.
“That hour a day outdoors kept me sane, preventing mental fog, and easing a lot of anxiety.”
You only have to search the phrase ‘Hot Girl Walk’ on TikTok to find many people taking part. Like many of those people, I’ve actually found this concept really helpful. Having intention while I walk has really made a positive impact on my mood. I’ve also found that getting dressed and outside makes me feel like I’m making the most out of the day. The daily walk has become my time.
There are so many benefits of walking, from reduced risk of heart disease to improving general mobility and muscle strength. It’s a low-impact form of exercise, which means it’s great for beginners who are trying to become more active.
Most importantly though, simply spending time outdoors has huge positive impacts on mental health. Take the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, when many of us took to daily walks. From personal experience, that hour a day outdoors kept me sane, preventing mental fog, and easing a lot of anxiety.
“Walking mindfully really provides that self-reflection time”
Now let’s be honest, getting outdoors is easier in summer. The cold weather is certainly off-putting and sometimes it feels like we’d feel better staying indoors. However, right now it’s the beginning of a new year, a great time for self-improvement. Many of us might have goals to improve our physical health and prioritise our mental health. We may want to be more present, achieve better work/life balance, or gather some clarity on what we want out of the next year. We may just want to challenge ourselves by committing to a new healthy habit. Walking mindfully really provides that self-reflection time, so we can think about what we want away from the hustle and bustle of our regular routine.
“Once it’s a part of your routine, your mind will thank you.”
The great thing about this concept is you don’t necessarily need to be outside for hours or walking for miles. Sometimes you can only fit in a ten minute stroll on your lunch break, but it’s what you do with that time that matters. It’s definitely possible to open this up further too – who says you can’t head to a local park to just sit and take some time for yourself? The main priority is getting away from the noise for some fresh air. It’s something which seems so simple, but in the times of working or studying from home, it’s actually quite a challenge.
It’s a small habit we can personalise to suit our own lives. It might mean wrapping up in a few layers this time of year as we wait for spring, but it’ll become easier as the weeks go on. Once it’s a part of your routine, your mind will thank you.
Featured image courtesy of Nigel Cohen on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
