Walk Without Purpose
May is Walking Month, and the BBC had a good article the other day to kick things off. It’s about the merits of walking, just for the sake of it.
The author laments the fact that only 17% of our walking trips are “just for walking”. Somewhere along the way to becoming over-scheduled smart-phone addicts, we lost our inclination to meander, and may have stunted our creativity in the process.
Recommended best walking practices:
– Walk further and with no fixed route
– Stop texting and mapping
– Don’t soundtrack your walks
– Go alone
– Find walkable spaces
– Walk mindfully
Let’s reclaim our freedom to roam and our ability to think, by getting out there for some long, purposeless, technology-free walks!
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About Lentus Ambulandus
Lentus Ambulandus is New Escapologist's Chief Leisure Officer. He advocates doing the things worth doing (hiking, cycling, sipping coffee, reading books), and proudly accomplishes less in a month than most people do in a week. His creed is simple: Death Before Employment.
I’m happy to see others contributing to this blog, especially you, Drew!
My wife and I live in a bike friendly city, but we haven’t embraced bicycles because walking is just so much easier. The one problem with our city is that much of it is laid out in a perfect grid, so it doesn’t feel that mysterious.
Sorry for taking so long to respond. At the time of your comment I was in the midst of a move to a new (very walkable) city. The move was followed by a bike tour through southern British Columbia, during which I was blissfully disconnected. Just now catching up, as I let the saddle sores heal…
I’ve lived in a few “grid” cities myself over the years, so I can relate. Perhaps try walking to, and beyond, the city limits.