‘Silent Walking’ is becoming increasingly popular as users share their experiences walking without being distracted by phone calls, music, or podcasts. By encouraging individuals to embrace silence during their walks, the trend—which gained popularity last year after TikTok creator Mady Maio shared her experience—is becoming acknowledged as a mental health practice that helps lower anxiety and offer serenity and clarity.
Walking while avoiding all electronic distractions and concentrating on one’s thoughts and environment is known as silent walking. The practice has drawn a lot of interest on social media, and many people have been sharing their experiences.
The trend began when Maio decided to take daily 30-minute walks rather than strenuous aerobic exercises, as advised by her dietitian. The viral trend began when her boyfriend recommended that she take these walks without outside distractions.
Nowadays, our phones are the most significant source of distraction. Therefore, silent walking is just taking a walk alone while putting away all other distractions. Because it involves a lot of thoughtful self-reflection outside of the technological and distracting environment, it is incredibly beneficial to our mental health. It’s a fantastic way to be intelligent and physically active.
By incorporating mindfulness, quiet walking provides a respite from continual distractions and helps us concentrate on the here and now. It helps us detach from technology and serves as a digital detox. It is also called walking meditation and was inspired by the ancient Zen Buddhist practice.
Fitness legend Milind Soman has long promoted distraction-free running and walking, frequently going barefoot. Padding increases awareness, improving emotional balance and inner peace by making people more aware of their bodies and surroundings.
The practice has several positive effects on mental health, including fostering self-reflection, mindfulness, and a break from the never-ending stimulation cycle. Padding has been demonstrated to improve cardiovascular health, increase sleep quality, and elevate mood via releasing endorphins and the relaxing effects of silence. By increasing sensory awareness of the sights, sounds, and fragrances in the surroundings, the practice also deepens the connection to nature.
Experts advise anyone interested in quiet walking to start slowly, taking 10-minute strolls around well-known locations before progressively extending the time. Although bringing phones for a stroll is legal, users should avoid checking their phones while on the walk and keep them on mute.
The idea of silent walking is not new, despite its recent rise in popularity on social media. For millennia, people have engaged in the custom of going for walks without interruptions. The trend offers a helpful way to mix physical activity with mental wellness and signifies a return to more straightforward, thoughtful behaviours in an increasingly computerized environment.
