I firmly believe that walking is the most underrated form of exercise. I started going on long walks mostly out of necessity to get to campus during Covid, and I quickly realized how therapeutic it could be. Now, I try to take a long walk every Sunday morning as a way to reset and refocus. It’s gone from a chore to part of my routine that I genuinely look forward to each week, and I think I have it down to a science.
BEFORE YOUR WALK
One of my favorite parts of going for a long walk is finding a great podcast. My taste in podcasts ranges from true crime to mental wellness, depending on the day. I’ve tried episodes from a wide variety of podcasts, and I feel confident that I’ve found my favorites.
True Crime
- Crime Weekly
- My Favorite Murder
- Crime Show
Informational / Current Events
- The Daily
- Reply All
- 99% Invisible
Self-help / Health / Wellness
- Do You F*****g Mind?
- The Skinny Confidential
- Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
- Thick & Thin
A solid pair of shoes is also an essential part of a good walk. I love my trusty Nike React Infinity Run Flyknits, but I’ve heard great things about Hokas, and have been eyeing them for a while.
I’m a firm believer in the “look good, feel good” mindset, and going on a walk is no exception. Some of my absolute favorite pieces to wear on a walk are:
- Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress
- Vuori Daily Leggings
- Beyond Yoga Racerback Cropped Tank
DURING YOUR WALK
Picking a good location is key to having a good walk. In Providence, I have a few go-to destinations that I rotate between, and I’m constantly keeping an eye out for more.
- Blackstone Boulevard: accessible near Wayland Square, long enough that you can get a good amount of distance without getting bored! Especially beautiful in the fall and spring when the leaves are changing.
- College Hill house tour: sometimes, when I feel like sticking closer to campus, I love wandering around College Hill and making a mental note of my future home.
- India Point Park: easy to access from Wickenden Street, and has a nice walking path that goes for a while along the river!
- Pedestrian Bridge: if you’re looking to get to downtown, this is a really nice way to do it. Cross the pedestrian bridge, and then walk along the water towards downtown for brunch or coffee.
My Sunday walks are the perfect excuse to treat myself to one of my favorite lattes to motivate me for the rest of the day. I’ve tried admittedly too many coffee spots in Providence, and I’ve landed on a few favorites that are within walking distance.
- Wildflour: this is definitely the farthest of the bunch, but worth the walk! About 2.5 miles from Wayland Square, a walk to Wildflour takes you down Blackstone Boulevard, with delicious lattes and vegan baked goods waiting on the other end! My personal favorites are the iced Coffee Milk Latte, and the chocolate chip scone.
- Little City Coffee & Kitchen: this place is SO underrated, and absolutely amazing. I try to tell people about it whenever I can! The downtown location is perfect for doing some shopping on Westminster Street, and their seasonal specialty lattes and scones are 11/10.
- Plant City: a super easy walk from campus, Plant City is a go-to of mine for amazing lattes, baked goods, and a cozy, bright spot to do homework or grab breakfast with friends. I’m a big fan of their homemade pop tarts and maple lattes.
AFTER YOUR WALK
Proper recovery from a long walk is just as important for your health as taking the walk in the first place! I’m still learning good habits in this area, but taking a few extra minutes to prioritize stretching and drinking water makes all the difference in the long run. My current goals are to stretch and foam roll for about ten minutes a day, and I’m currently aiming to drink a gallon of water a day. It’s so easy to forgo these things in the moment when you’re in a rush to get to work or get on with your day, but in the long run, giving yourself that time is so worth it, which is really how I feel about the whole process of a self-care walk.