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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wisconsin chapter.

It will change your life

I was never one to consistently take walks. I would scoff when friends or family told me that they loved going on walks. I would question how that would be fun or relaxing. The idea always seemed very mundane to me. Ever since middle school, I zoomed past people that were slow walkers and ensured that they saw my frustration with their choice of speed. 

Since moving to college, I wanted to explore and since I was not going to drive in Madison traffic, I started going for walks. I would power on my Beats, blast my favorite upbeat music, and start walking. I did not have a path in mind and just went wherever my legs took me.

My walking journey took me down Bascom Hill to explore campus, down past the Capitol to the farmers market, by Lake Mendota, and I ended up discovering many different coffee shops around the city.

I originally had the idea because the weather was perfect. The birds were singing and there was a slight breeze, so I made the decision to try something new. I started walking and plugged in my music while looking around at my different settings. I walked past the Unions, down State Street, and back while window shopping at many unique shops in the city. 

Later in the week, I started to look for podcasts to listen to in order to activate my brain as well as my other muscles. My favorite one that I found was Emma Chamberlain’s Anything Goes. These walks quickly became like therapy. They have helped me find a healthy coping mechanism and have quickly become my favorite part of the day. It positively impacts my day and it sucks when I have to go a day without a walk. 

I have found that when I am in a good mood, I pick songs that are more upbeat, seek out new adventures, and people-watch to see what is going on around me. When I need something a little more uplifting, I find comforting and nostalgic songs, a path that I am familiar with that I know will calm me down, and have more of an introverted demeanor to focus on my individual peace and positivity. Walking provides a way to get my exercise goals in for the day and take a break from the stressors occurring in my life. 

Walking has quickly become a part of my daily routine while helping me balance my life and health goals. If you feel that walking is already a necessary part of life and there is no reason to go on walks, take it from an ex-hater of walking: it will positively change your life.

Gabby Guzman

Wisconsin '26

Gabby is a current first-year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is majoring in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies and Communications. She is originally from Plymouth, Minnesota, which means she is a die-hard Vikings fan. Her interests include watching sports, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. Gabby is so excited to be welcomed into the Her Campus community and have the opportunity to share her ideas and experiences with everyone!