This year, more than any other, I have entered my anxious girlie era. For whatever reason, I’ll sit in class and get attacked with the most aggressive anxiety in the world. I’ve been trying to figure out why it’s happening and, more importantly, how to deal with it. When I expressed my feelings to my roommate, she suggested I start taking Hot Girl Walks in the morning. According to the creator of Hot Girl Walks, a Hot Girl Walk is an “outdoor walk where you can only think about three things: things you’re grateful for, your goals and how you want to achieve them, and how hot you are.” I love going for walks, but hadn’t thought about using them as a self-care tool before. Adding this new activity to my daily routine has made significant changes in my anxiety and overall mental health.
Adding these walks into my daily routine makes me feel less anxious and more productive. Depending on the day, I listen to music, a podcast, or call my mom. Being outdoors helps me clear my head and organize my thoughts before dealing with assignments for the day, which has become a game changer. It helps me get some early-morning jitters out before heading onto campus, too. I’ve noticed that sitting in classes for hours is a big trigger for my anxiety, so physical activity before class helps get some of my energy out. I’ve seen a significant change in my productivity during classes since I’m not coming straight from bed. I’m able to actively listen in my courses, take useful notes, and participate more in my lectures. It has all-in-all positively impacted my mental health, and I can’t help but rave about it!
There are so many health benefits to walking. A study done in 2014 by the National Center of Medicine showed that walking has very similar benefits to running when it comes to reducing hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes. Another study in 2022 found that brisk walking can actually help slow down the biological aging process! Not only are there many physical benefits to walking, but lots of mental ones as well. Improving my mindfulness, easing my mind, and taking a break from screens has been amazing for my mental health.
Incorporating this walk into my daily routine has never felt like a chore and I look forward to doing it! On days where I’m not feeling up to it, I don’t pressure myself to take a Hot Girl Walk, which has made it easier for me to actually want to do it! Making these walks a self-care activity for myself instead of a workout has made a huge difference. I don’t focus on how far or how long I’ve walked, but instead focus on how I feel. This shift in my mindset has been key to holding myself accountable and keeping up with my new habit. I find myself wanting to go for my walk when I’m feeling down or lazy because I find it makes such a difference in how I feel both physically and mentally. I’ve also found that the mindfulness and positive-thinking I focus on during my walks has changed how I think about other things in my everyday life. Instead of stressing about little things like I used to, I’m able to calm myself down easier and find realistic solutions.
Overall, these walks have become a breakthrough for me when dealing with my anxiety and stress this semester. I’m hoping to continue going for these walks even as it gets colder because they have become something I enjoy doing and look forward to! Of course, I still struggle with my anxiety and this is not the cure to that. However, it has definitely made my anxiety less prevalent in my day-to-day life which I am so grateful for.
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