I used to dread the short 15-minute walk back home from Mesa Verde. It felt exhausting and drained me after an already tiring day in school. To me, walking in general was boring, mentally unstimulating, and a massive waste of time. Why, after all, had we spent so many years inventing cool new vehicles like cars and bikes meant to replace walking, should I continue to tread and — heaven forbid, use my feet — at this tedious, slow pace? As 9th grade rolled around, my stance on these dreadful endeavors didn’t change. However, I did notice a particular quality in the students walking around me: Instead of walking “normally” and looking where we were going, we all walked with our heads down, eyes glued to our phones. 

This observation reminded me of the horrors of the 2016 Pokemon Go craze where avid players, glued to their phones in an attempt to catch a shiny new Charizard, were run over by cars, walked off cliffs, and even stumbled upon dead bodies. The potentially deadly consequences of not paying attention, along with my fear of the ignominy I would face from being labeled as a screenager, pushed me to stop using my phone while walking to and from school. 

At first, I listened to music and audiobooks to soothe my boredom, but I soon found that I enjoyed just walking with no forced entertainment, just my thoughts and the rustling wind keeping me company. This practice of walking without distraction is often referred to as “silent walking” or “mindful walking.” And, after almost a year of silent treks home from school, I have noticed some surprising changes. 

The first thing I noticed? The grass was greener, the sun was warmer, and the leaves were crunchier. Of course, the grass, sun, and leaves had always been that way, but I’d just never noticed; I had never been present enough to grasp. It’s almost surprising how beautiful the fenced-off sidewalk leading to Vons is. Had I never forced myself to pry my eyes away from my phone, I would have never noticed the dappled sunlight and jewel-colored leaves. If the beautiful view isn’t enough to convince you, my very credible sources state that you are 70% less likely to step on a stray snail or dog poop on the sidewalk if you start being present with your surroundings!

Because my short walks are often right after school, I find that they also rejuvenate my brain, refolding all of the folds that had been unraveled at school. Because I made the decision to take harder and more intense courses this year, I find that by the end of the school day, my brain is especially fuzzy and exhausted. Silent walking, however, gives my brain a break and allows me to reflect on and clear any lingering thoughts I gathered throughout the school day, preparing me for the afternoon of studying that awaits.

I had always known that exercise was good for mental health, but upon further research, the positive effects are more surprising than I expected. A 2023 study from the University of Victorio found that a 15-minute walk increased the P300 peak amplitude, a specific type of brain response that is linked to neural processes like attention allocation, working memory, and decision-making. In other words, this short walk increased performance on cognitive tasks and improved reaction time. Interestingly, these results were only seen when participants walked outdoors, not when they exercised indoors. In a different study by the University of Auckland, researchers found similar results but also found that walking while looking at a phone resulted in less happiness and relaxation, reversing the positive effects of walking. I  observed similar effects on myself and my friends during school. 

Now, whenever possible, I  encourage my friends to make use of Westview’s open campus and take walks during passing periods. We will often circle around the same building multiple times, immersing ourselves in Westview’s plentiful jungle of flat bushes and singular saplings. When we return to our next period, we all feel rejuvenated and prepared for our next class. 

Something I’ve noticed more recently is that walking has made me a more curious, creative person. A similar phenomenon explains why children are often more creative than adults. According to a study by Tilburg University, children have more free time to let their imagination run wild, while adults are often immersed in endless worries and work, rarely having a spare moment to let their minds wander freely. A study by Stanford shows that creative thinking is boosted by almost 60% when walking, compared to sitting or standing. Even Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg had been known for their walking meetings, and for the same reason, people pace back and forth when trying to come up with new ideas. Walking gets the creative juices going. For me,  around 70-80% of my own ideas come to me while I am walking without distractions. 

This effect is likely enhanced by the law of reversed effort. This concept has been rediscovered multiple times throughout history under names like paradoxical intention, the backward law, flow state, wu wei, and beginner’s mind, but the basis is still the same. It suggests that when you stop forcing results and let go of control, the desired outcome often happens more naturally. This law is most effective when one is in a state of combined relaxation and activity, and a great way to achieve this state is silent walking. Many of us have probably experienced this for ourselves. After hours of agonizing over a particular writing assignment, once you give up and take your mind off the task, great ideas come to you naturally.

Even aside from all of these otherworldly benefits of silent walking, I have simply come to enjoy the quiet wonders of walking. When asked if I need a ride back home I will always opt to walk silently amongst my own thoughts instead. And, during my walks to Peet’s in pursuit of a latte, I now enjoy the walk more than the latte. I can’t say that I have completely forbidden myself from using my phone. But, I have come to appreciate that the thoughtfulness and peace I can get from a short walk are far more valuable than the amusement I will get from watching a few funny reels on my phone.