The Power Of Walks (Create Walking Types)

I’ve never been a walking person. Not because I hated it, but because I never considered doing it. I always associate walking with the fitness world, nothing more. And honestly, I have always been a kind of lazy guy from young age. I would take the car even for ridiculous distances.

In my early 20s I used to spend my time at home scrolling through the phone on the couch, and if I went out, 90% of the time it was to go to a bar to drink something with friends, which was another passive activity considering that we were sitting at a table all the time. But years ago, something changed.

I was going through a stressful period, I was working too much, and I had a lot of things going on. My brain was freaking out. On social media many people were talking about walking and its benefits, it had become a sort of trend, it was in everyone’s mouth. So since I had nothing to lose, I decided to try it.

I remember that the first few times were weird. I had no idea what I was doing. I was walking randomly around my neighborhood. But when I came back home, I felt slightly better, lighter. Over time, it became a daily habit, and now I can say with absolute confidence that it is one of the best things I’ve ever done. It has changed my life for the better. Actually, I don’t think I could live without it. I walk almost every day, and I really enjoy this activity. But I’m not going to lie, I’m very lucky.

I live in a historic neighborhood in Bergamo, Italy, where there are a lot of streets, parks, squares, and places to go. So it was quite easy to go out. When you live in a beautiful place, you’re advantaged. But I think everyone can do it, no matter where you live or who you are.

A Simple But Powerful Habit

If you live in a society, you’ll probably have a lot of commitments — work, family, friends, relationships. That means the time you truly have for yourself is not that much. That’s why you should treat it like gold. The way you use your time defines who you’re becoming, and its quality shapes the value of your life.

If you spend the short amount of time you have just on distractions and passive activities, you shouldn’t be surprised if you end up bored. I’m not saying to delete distractions completely — in fact, I think that entertainment is a good way to take a break. But your time is limited, just like the things you can do with it. So you need to choose carefully what to do.

Most of the things we do nowadays, for example, if you think about staying on social media, watching TV, playing video games, are different from each other, but they have one thing in common:

They keep you stuck at the f*cking screen.

And even if you use them with all the good intentions of the world, the problem is still the same. You’ll keep your head pushed by information. Until there’s no space to think anymore.

So you need something different. Something that provides enjoyment without keeping your eyes stuck on the screen. Something simple but powerful. Something you can customize to your lifestyle. Something that costs you so little but gives you so much. Something that improves your life in different areas.

Walking can be a solution.

Move To Feel Better

This is the most obvious reason. Walking is good for your health. It helps you burn calories, keep in shape, and if you want to lose some weight, it’s probably the most accessible and affordable way to start. Super easy for those who don’t want to go to the gym, you just take your shoes and you’re ready to go. But it doesn’t stop here, because walking has not only physical benefits.

I saw on social media a post that was very popular, and still is. It showed a brain scan before and after 20 minutes of walking. The brain activity was clearly increased — if you’re on X or LinkedIn, you know the post I’m talking about.

Even though I’m not an expert in the field, the message is clear:

Walking “turns on” the brain.

You can feel it even without images of scans. When you come back home, you feel more awake, lucid.

Another thing is the light exposure. Walking means being outdoors. So it’s a good way to take some sun, which is very healthy for your bones and for those who like me are white like a mozzarella. I try to get some fancy color texture on my skin in the summer, but it’s not easy, so imagine if I didn’t even do that (I would end up like some kind of Nordic alien or something like that).

All this, from physical benefits, light exposure, brain stimulation, is what you can get just from moving. And the best part is you don’t need to go for a 2-hour walk if you don’t want to. Even just 20 minutes can make the difference.

Move To Meet People

Walking is an open door to relationships. If you put yourself out of home, you can potentially get to know someone. And if you’re looking for a partner or maybe want to make new friends or just simply meet new people, it’s a better moment to do it — rather than force yourself to go to clubs or places you don’t want to go.

I’m not saying to rely just on walks to make connections but keep your eyes open, you’ll never know what might happen.

Move To Meditate

Meditation isn’t a position or a technique. It’s a state. It’s the art of doing nothing. It’s about being present, being at one with reality, observing without judgement, without attaching yourself to any thoughts. This doesn’t mean that you have to stay sitting to do it.

Even walking can be a moment of meditation. Especially if you do it away from chaos, in the middle of nature, in silence. Where there’s peace and you can feel the life in all its forms.

For me, nature plays a strong role here. If I want to meditate, I don’t think that I can do that in a crowded street. But in a quiet park with not too many people, yes. Don’t think that meditation is confined to the idea of the man doing “Ohm”. Meditation could happen even if you’re moving.

Move With Music

I don't know about you but I personally love walking while listening to music, and I do that for 2 different reasons.

The first one is because when I want to take a break from work it’s perfect for disconnecting and to enjoy the moment, music is life. The second one is because as a songwriter and musician I need ideas and inspiration for my projects.

In fact, that’s how I created my second album Collide Zone, by the way.

So, if you really want to take a break musical walk it's the way.

Move For Creative Input

If I have to tell you what is the main reason why I walk every day, I would say that it is because it is the most creative time. It is the moment when I remove the pressure of being productive and I make space for creativity.

During these walks I listen to content like podcasts or YouTube videos. But I don’t consume any kind of content, I’m very specific in my selection. Because the quality of what I consume here is going to impact the quality of my ideas by filtering the mind.

The better the input, the better the ideas.

One of my favorites is The Diary Of A CEO — which I think is a very good podcast that covers various themes, I really recommend it. When I have an idea or something interesting that I want to write about or explore more, I write it down in my notes.

But I don’t always want to listen to something. There are days where I just go out in silence. Especially when I have to solve a problem. When there’s quiet, I can think clearly and my mind can breathe. Curiously, when I walk in silence and I’m not seeking ideas at all, they come to me with no effort. It seems like having a stroke of genius out of nowhere. But I think this is because in silence my mind has space, and my subconscious starts to connect the dots automatically.

Create Walking Types

A walk in the morning is different from a walk at night. A street full of people is not the same as a quiet park. And listening to a podcast or music is not like walking in silence.

Not all walks are the same. Every walk has its own way. Every person is different, has a different lifestyle, lives in different places, has different goals. Creating walking types is the art of combining all these things together.

But this is not linear, there’s no rigid structure. A walking type can evolve and change over time. There are factors like the weather, the season, or big events that might have a huge impact and change your life.

But let’s take the fundamentals.

Purpose: Why You Walk

Nothing is done for no reason. Every walk has its own purpose. Maybe you don’t recognize it yet, but underneath you know that you’re looking for something. Understanding why you’re doing it gives you more awareness, more intention. It helps you choose better when, where and how you do it.

Is it because you need ideas? To reflect on something? Just for taking a break? Or maybe just for losing some weight?

Think about it.

Time: When You Walk

Time has a huge influence on our mental, physical, and emotional state. Walking early in the morning is not the same as walking in the evening. Each time of day has its own energy. Its own rhythm. The morning walks can help you wake up your body and mind. The afternoon can be ideal for creativity. The evening can be perfect for a break and chill. This depends on you, your lifestyle, your routine.

The best way to choose the right time is to find the meeting point between purpose and availability.

Remember, for every purpose there is an ideal time.

Route: Where You Walk

The environment is everything. Choosing where to go will impact your walks in many ways. Walking in a street full of people is not like walking in a park. Especially if your goal is to meditate or reflect. That’s why it’s very important to have favorite routes.

My first walks, I used to wander with no destination. I didn’t know where I wanted to go. And I thought I knew the place where I lived like the back of my hand. But surprisingly I didn’t — you’d be shocked by how many places there are close to you that you didn’t even know existed. So I created specific routes based on my purposes.

Here it really depends on where you are. I can’t help that much on this, you know the place you live better than me. But I can tell you that if you study your city or whatever place you’re in, you can take great advantages. Think like an explorer. Look for big parks, uncrowded streets, nature trails, beaches, woods, panoramic views, rivers and lakes.

Having a mental map of your routes helps you choose the best one based on the type of walking you want to do that day. And no, it doesn’t mean you have to stop exploring. It just means you have a baseline, and you can go from there to discover more.

To Conclude

Creating walking types takes time and experimentation. It’s not something that happens immediately. Over time you’ll start to notice that purpose, time, and route are connected with each other and shape the way you walk.

That’s it.

Thanks for your time.

Have a good walk, see you next.

- Alessandro