In Her Campus’s series The College Try, our writers test out viral wellness, dating, fashion, productivity, and pop culture trends firsthand. This time, Marie Gomez gives the 6-6-6 walking method the ol’ college try.
Walking is part of my daily routine. Whether I’m walking to class on the other side of campus, going to work, or even just getting out of my bed in general, I consider my daily steps my exercise routine. And after scrolling on my FYP, I came across a new walking trend I felt called to try: the 6-6-6 walking method.
If you haven’t heard of it, the 6-6-6 walking method is where you complete a six-minute warm-up followed by a 60-minute walk, and end with a six-minute cooldown. And if you want to be even more dedicated, you can complete the exercise at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m.
And the 6-6-6 walking method has its benefits. Along with improving your cardiovascular health, going for a 60-minute walk can also boost your mood and help with productivity. Additionally, walking either at the start or end of the day can improve cognitive function — with morning walks helping you focus, and evening walks aiding you in unwinding.
At first, I thought this was a little too much for me (an hour-long walk is a lot), and I wouldn’t be able to fully dedicate myself to this level of intensity. However, I really wanted to try and see if I could improve my walking habits. So, I gave the 6-6-6 walking method a try — and here’s how it went.
Day 1
I know the number six is very significant for this exercise routine, but I am not an early bird. The earliest I can get up is 8 a.m. Still, I woke up at around 7 a.m. and headed out for my first 6-6-6 walk.
I did a few stretches, some jumping jacks, and jogged in place as my six-minute warm-up. Then, I walked around my neighborhood for about 30 minutes — since I’m starting slow and didn’t want to push myself to walk for an entire hour. Progress over perfection.
After my walk, I took a six-minute cooldown by stretching, lying down, taking a breath, and reflecting on how the walk made me feel: good!
Day 2
To give my legs a break, I actually didn’t walk on this day. Instead, I took some time to reflect on how the first walk went. IMO, 60 minutes of walking is a lot, especially every day — but I still wanted to try it out before the week was over. For the most part, it didn’t seem too bad, and walking the first day for half the time made me want to push harder for the next walk. So, the rest day was needed.
Day 3
I decided to try my walk in the evening, around 5 p.m., so I could finish at 6 p.m. on the dot. (Plus, I didn’t want to walk when it was dark out.) I decided to walk to a location that was a little bit further than my usual route, which I saw as a challenge.
It was definitely difficult at first, but I pushed through and made it the full 60 minutes. Wearing headphones, listening to music, and having a refreshing bottle of water made it a little easier not to overthink the process of walking for that long of a duration. After that, I cooled down and headed in for the night.
Day 4
I took another rest day on Day 4. Reflecting on Day 3, I came to the conclusion that the walk was not too bad: I knew where I was going, I was on the sidewalk the entire time, and I made it through. Still, I was really looking forward to the cooldown after my walk. I also decided to go to bed early on Day 4, so I could try going for an early morning walk for my last try.
Day 5
For my last day of trying the 6-6-6 walking method, I wanted to give it my all. I even woke up before 6 a.m.!
The most challenging part of this walk specifically was getting up at 6 a.m. It felt weird, but nice, to walk in the morning. When it wasn’t so hot, it was a perfect way to start my day. Plus, there weren’t too many students on campus at this time, which made the experience ideal.
Still, walking for 60 minutes was a challenge — and a real workout. By the end, I was pretty winded and ready to relax, but the day was just beginning.
Overall, the 6-6-6 walking method was a little difficult, but something I would definitely try again. The best part of the 6-6-6 walk was that I could do it at my own speed — no equipment required — and I could count it as my daily exercise routine without worrying about making it to the gym before or after classes. While fitting in a 60-minute walk several times a week can be a little unattainable, I can see myself incorporating it when I have the time.
