How To Use Walking As A Way To Stay In The Present Moment

You have likely heard the expression "to walk the walk and talk the talk." While the phrase refers to acting in the way that you speak, walking has additional benefits that focus less on talking and more on learning to listen effectively. Walking outdoors provides you with a great opportunity to center yourself in the moment after strapping on your sneakers.

No, I am not referring to the song "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith, although that is quite the rocking tune.

Walking, aside from being a great form of exercise, provides a way for you to stop living in your mind. You "live in your mind" when you become caught up in your thoughts and lose a sense of connection with your physical surroundings.

Have you ever "watched" a television show and found that when it ended you hadn't really been paying any attention? Perhaps you can not even remember the title of the show. You have likely not suffered a memory failure. When you become overly consumed with your thoughts to the point that your attention to the television comes secondary, you are kept from living in the present.

Walking can help shift you back into the present moment if you adapt these tips.

Imagine you are outside going for a walk. Now imagine that you are listening to the sounds around you. I mean really listening.

• Listen to the birds chirping. Literally.
• Can you hear cars? Are the motors running? Horns beeping?
• Are people's voices within hearing range?

Listen. Pay attention to the sounds. Dissect further.

• How many birds can you hear? Keep a tally of the number in your head.
• Can you pick out any of the words that you hear in conversations?
• What is making that whirring sound in the distance? Can you identify the sound?

By adapting these tips for active listening, you are engaging with your environment. You don't have your attention focused on your essay due tomorrow or what to say if an interviewer phones you next week. Instead, your focus is on the Now.

When you return home you will likely find your mind refreshed and ready to tackle that problem with extra energy. Give your mind a rest from your current problems to enjoy your surroundings. Take the time for yourself. You may even learn something new about your neighbourhood as you walk. Now there's a welcome bonus!