Mental blocks are stopping me from going on walks!

June 14, 2020 1:12 AM

That rhymes, doesn't it?! For the past 3 months I've been a couch potato. The most walking I do is in the grocery store, these days. Going on a daily walk would be the easiest way to get active, but I can find a million reasons why I don't want to go on one. Help me get out of my head and send me on a walk!

Since mid-March, I have literally been just going to work then laying in bed for the rest of the evening watching tv. It's getting ridiculous. I feel like shit and I'm bored.

Going on a walk seems like the easiest way to get out. I rent a room and really don't want to buy any sort of workout equipment (not that I could find any). The idea of going on a walk kind of... repulses me. Which sounds extreme, I know.

It just sounds so boring! I have no one to go on a walk with (which would make it less boring). I live in a very suburban town which, again, bores me. There's no scenery to look at, nothing interesting to discover. I love walking in hustling and bustling cities, but in the suburbs? Boring!!! I'm supposed to walk around and... do what? Is there a way to make a solo walk moderately enjoyable? The idea of going on a walk alone just depresses me. Can a non-walker become a walker?

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (36 answers total)

Music? Find some tunes that match your walking rhythm. It takes some experimentation to find the things that match your walking pace, and that you like, but when you do... just start them up and start walking.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:26 AM on June 14, 2020

I mean- podcasts? Catalog what you find on iNaturalist and learn about plants and birds and bugs of your neighborhood? Start a couch to 5k program or do Zombies, Run (which I think you can do while walking)? See if you can map interesting shapes with your walk or spell things out using mapping/workout software on your phone? Commit to calling a friend or family member and catching up for 15 minutes each time you walk?
posted by charmedimsure at 1:30 AM on June 14, 2020 [11 favorites]

Podcasts! Make up some kind of reason why you can only ever listen to podcasts while walking, then find some really good ones. The scenery might be dull but your ears are full of goodness and you are doing something good for your body.
posted by altolinguistic at 1:31 AM on June 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Buy a new pair of shoes or special "walking clothes"? The only way to use your new purchase is now to go walking.

As mentioned, podcasts or phone calls are great ways to pass the walk. Dateline has a podcast now, if that's something you might watch on TV.

Spend a few minutes mapping a route, and try a different route each time. Or make a point to walk the same way at a particular time each day, to meet neighbors sitting on porches or walking dogs.

Gamify it with an app or log to track how long or far you walk. Special reward every week if you achieve a goal or pass a milestone.

Locate your nearest park or green space, and go walk there. Bring a picnic dinner, or even a device to watch a show while you hang out for a bit, before you walk home.
posted by Red Desk at 2:02 AM on June 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

I’d also recommend listening to podcasts or music, (or the radio for that matter.)

Is there somewhere you could walk to, to reward yourself? Like a park, or a coffee shop, if even just to give yourself a destination for the walk - and turning it from “I’m going for a walk” to “I’m going to go get a coffee/ice cream / whatever (and I just happen to be walking there)”.

Would you be interested in something like Pokémon Go - playing a game while walking?
posted by scorbet at 2:11 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

I take pictures and post them on instagram. Not scenic stuff but little details like flowers, signs, cats, a shadow, a crooked fence etc. Definitely makes a walk less boring.
posted by The Toad at 2:25 AM on June 14, 2020 [7 favorites]

Yeah podcasts are the reason I can go for runs or walks on my own. I am completely the same in that I would get bored otherwise. The podcast world is so incredibly rich you should be able to find something, and if not, you can go with audio books instead
posted by Cannon Fodder at 2:49 AM on June 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Join a walking group? Get a dog? Part of the reason I got my dogs was because I knew I would be forced to move more. I mean, don’t get one unless you really want one anyway but it’s a great side effect.
posted by Jubey at 2:55 AM on June 14, 2020

I love playing "Zombies, Run" while I walk! It's very flexible to your own needs--you don't have to run, and you don't have to do the thing where you speed up to avoid the zombies. The ongoing narrative is interesting and makes a playground of my walking space. It interleaves bits of the story with songs (or whatever) from a playlist you choose, so you can also be listening to songs (or whatever) you like in between.

They also have an app called "The Walk", with a thriller plot, which I haven't tried yet.
posted by theatro at 3:17 AM on June 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

My therapist said I had to, and grudgingly I did. I guess I'm a push over for authority.
posted by freethefeet at 3:51 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

Don't go on a walk. Whatever you do, do not go on some "walk."

Just step out your front door. Just to stand outside. Maybe get some sunlight or breeze on your face. Just for a minute. You can head back in if you really want to. But you might feel like taking a few steps. Is there a sidewalk up ahead? Maybe a few more. The end of the block isn't that far -- maybe you give yourself an internal high-five for seeing what's happening at the end of the block. Then.... you really only have to go half as far as you want. The wholeness is in the return.
posted by cocoagirl at 4:40 AM on June 14, 2020 [15 favorites]

I'm with everyone on podcasts and/or audiobooks. I try to save the ones I really like to make me want to go outside even when it's horrible and drizzly. I've really been enjoying listening to Agatha Christie and other fairly straightforward audiobooks - many of the BBC adaptations are available for free through my library, but ymmv. Listening to the radio adaptation of the Ripley books just now. I do try to take out my earphones for a bit during each walk and try to listen to what's around me as well though.

Another thing I've really been enjoying is exploring new places near my flat. Might depend on your neighbourhood, but I've found an old cemetary with lovely wildlife and some cool very small parks. Also picking weird dead-end streets or neighbourhoods I don't normally go to. I've been looking up google maps to try and find little spots I don't know.

I get the struggle though - but it's definitely easier once you start. And you can always decide to abandon your walk if you're not enjoying it. Give it a few minutes and go home if you're not feeling it....

Good luck!
posted by sedimentary_deer at 4:55 AM on June 14, 2020 [1 favorite]

Gamify it with Pokemon Go, Wizards Unite, or Minecraft Earth!
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:29 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

I'm having the same problem right now. I used to walk to work every day but now that I'm working from home, it's harder to go for a walk without a purpose.

I find it easier if I have a destination or purpose. So I'm checking out the Little Free Libraries or going to the grocery store to pick up a few ingredients. Even if they're quite out of my way, I find it easier to go if I have a purpose.
posted by Pademelon at 5:43 AM on June 14, 2020 [3 favorites]

I'd highly suggest pokemon go. Even if you don't like or know about pokemon. We do it as a family activity with the kids (my niblings), and I, a non-walker, have spent many evenings walking 2 miles around our neighborhood because of the game. It's very easy to get into, and can be played without straying far from your house. They've changed things a bit since coronavirus, and more rewards are available, and more stuff can be done without leaving the house as well.
posted by FirstMateKate at 5:52 AM on June 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

Botanize. Look for weedy places as interesting plants can be found even in the cracks of sidewalks. This website will help identify plants in New England and maybe there is something local to you if you are somewhere else. Some weeds are edible, many wild plants are important for wildlife. See if you can identify one new one on each walk. I also like to look at people's vegetable gardens which have multiplied this year and to see who is feeding birds. What do you hear? You need to get outside to focus on the natural world.
posted by Botanizer at 6:07 AM on June 14, 2020 [3 favorites]

Help me get out of my head and send me on a walk!

An old-school pedometer made all the difference for me. Racking up that number is satisfying, and is tangible evidence that a walk makes the difference in my daily total.

Since March 14, the day after the pandemic closed everything down in my county, I have walked 2.5-3 miles every day (except two; big rains) on the same rural roads and it's one giant head-fake. I take the dog; I don't like her, but I know that no one else will walk her like this, and I score cheap high-ground points for getting this chore done. Right before I leave, I read something or listen to a podcast, so I have uninterrupted time to think about the material and my own response to it. I compose emails in my head as I walk. But I also make a game of noticing: how many people are out? How many cats at this particular house? What's blooming by the side of the road? What's growing in neighbors' gardens? What kind of wildlife is out and about? What kind of flattened fauna is that? Which vehicles are more and less likely to give way for pedestrians? Where can I jog for a little bit and shave a minute off my time? In the meantime, I've dropped weight and increased my overall fitness--the head-fake has turned out to have body impact--but fooling my brain into being alert while my feet are on auto-pilot has been the key.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:19 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

When I was a snotty young person, I used to have a grand old time walking around the suburbs and critiquing the quirky and sometimes terrible architecture. Read some McMansion Hell, then go out and laugh at your neighbors' bizarre rooflines.
posted by toastedcheese at 6:20 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

There's no need to put the pressure on the outside world—you can go inward. Walking meditation is a long-established concept, and a part of my mindfulness practice for the last year and a half. A quick search for the phrase will return pages and pages of audio and video links full of examples, instruction, inspiration, etc.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 7:12 AM on June 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

Star chart. Like you're 5. Reward systems are very effective; there's a ton of research on this.

Print or draw a calendar page for a month. Find or buy some stickers.
Every day that you get dressed, wash face, brush teeth, put on shoes, by a reasonable time, you draw a star on the chart.
If you actually leave the house, even just to say hello to the bushes in the yard, star.
If you leave the yard and walk to the corner and back, star.
5 stars gets a sticker. The stars and stickers are a visible reward and have effectiveness and provide motivation. There are no punishments, only rewards.

Think of some small tangible rewards. A wearable device, step counter on your mobile, pedometer is a great way to track goals; the steps are reinforcing. Nice gel pens, a fabric-covered charging cable, magazine, fancy soap, make some award signs for yourself, whatever. The rewards must be tangible and immediate, so if it's a book you've been wanting, order it, but don't open it. To start, 3 stickers gets a reward. As you make progress, you'll either change what merits a star or require more stickers to get a prize. Food rewards can play into eating issues; candy bars are not recommended, but things like artichoke hearts(mildly expensive treat), a nice steak, the gourmet mushrooms, maybe a small fancy piece of chocolate. Alcohol rewards are similarly fraught, use your judgement.

Make a list of benefits. I'll feel better with a bit of exercise. Last time I went to the corner market, it was nice to get a bottle of water and say hello to another person. The sun felt good. I saw birds. Uneasiness going outside can be caused by social phobias. Reward systems help with this, but therapy is especially helpful. There's a *lot* of fear right now, much of it justified. Covid, racism, anger, US politics. Listen to your inner voice, reassure it that Outside is safe and welcoming.
posted by theora55 at 7:19 AM on June 14, 2020 [7 favorites]

Walk after dark. The whole world is different in audio and visual context.

Learn cloud types. The sky is always changing.

Either way, bring a camera/phone and capture anything 'interesting'. This will hone your practice and show that no walk is boring.
posted by j_curiouser at 7:39 AM on June 14, 2020 [3 favorites]

Call a friend or relative who you like having long conversations with (bonus points if it's someone elderly who can't get out right now and could really use the virtual company).
posted by pinochiette at 7:45 AM on June 14, 2020 [5 favorites]

All great suggestions here, especially the idea of just first getting out the door for a few minutes. I went through a major trauma a few years ago and very small, measurable actions were the way to go for me to get through it. And if I only got one stupidly minor thing done, like get a phone number I needed, that was ok. And when I started to bad-talk myself, I tried to gently redirect that. Good luck.
posted by Gusaroo at 8:31 AM on June 14, 2020 [3 favorites]

It’s also generally easier to do it if you haven’t basically settled down for the evening. I find that if I sit down either after coming in from work (in the before times) or just moving from the “work area” to the “sitting area”, I can basically forget going outside. I need a really good reason to go out again. (I need to go to the supermarket, I want to see the ISS go by, I need to post a letter are acceptable reasons. I should go for a walk normally isn’t.)

I’ve learned I either need to combine getting home from work with a walk (I’m a 40 min walk from work), or go out again basically straight away, and not let myself sit down for 10 minutes.
posted by scorbet at 9:28 AM on June 14, 2020 [2 favorites]

Well, I'm agoraphobic now so I can't stand going outside to walk any more. But I do walk around inside my house (just back and forth) while watching stuff on YouTube to distract me. Maybe that might be a good "gateway" thing for you even if you literally only have A Room to do that in? Try that out and see if you'd want to do more than that in the future?
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:58 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

Getting into photography might help motivate you to get out there. Get inspired by photographers who find moments of beauty in suburban life. On the surface your area might seem super blah, but there's always something interesting around you.
posted by thebots at 10:19 AM on June 14, 2020 [3 favorites]

I go first thing in the morning before I do anything else (except feed the cats). It's cooler, there are fewer people around, and I get it done early. I live in suburbia too so it can get boring. Sometimes, just driving to a nearby neighborhood is helpful for a change of scenery. I like to look at houses and I listen to music, but audiobooks and podcasts are good too. I like keeping track with a pedometer too because it's satisfying to see how far I've been (this week I walked almost 27 miles!) But really, the key for me is leaving the house first thing.
posted by ceejaytee at 10:22 AM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

#1. I set a timer or alarm for every 60 or 90 minutes and then go for a little walk at that point. Like maybe just 5 minutes, but get up and walk. It really helps if you're the type of person who can spend uninterrupted hours in front of a computer or TV screen. Also walking, even just around the block, say, once every hour or so is by far the easiest way to get some $X number of steps in every day, whether that is 3000 steps or 10000 or 20000 or whatever.

#2. Podcasts.

#3. I've recently discovered birding on my "boring" suburban walks. Suburbs are filled with birds. (Well, pretty much anywhere is.) Pretty much any suburban area is going to have at least 20 different common bird species active right now, and many many many more rare ones, and those will gradually change gradually with the season over the course of a year.

So my same old "boring" walks that I have walked probably at least 5000 or 10000 times in the past 25 years are suddenly filled with new and interesting bird calls and sightings every time. I've been doing this for maybe a month now and and still 95% of the bird calls I hear and 80% of the sightings are complete mysteries.

My regular old 7-minute walk around the block is now like walking through a mysterious vast 3-D jungle filled with tons of calls and songs and sounds that are all tantalizing and mysterious and that I have never before been even vaguely aware of.

What you'll need: eBird web site and Android app/iPhone app - Merlin web site and Android/iPhone app - maybe a little pair of binoculars or a spotting scope or even something like opera glasses.

Merlin helps you identify birds in your local area, showing you what they look like, what they sound, and including a bird search feature so you can narrow your search by location, season, size, color, behavior, etc.

eBird lets you log and track your finds and also helps science by helping get a better grasp on what species are more common in what area of the world at different times of year etc.

Binoculars or a spotting scope aren't really necessary--especially at first but--if you have them already or don't mind spending even $25-$35 on a basic pair of binoculars they make it quite a bit easier to ID that bird up on a tree or on an electric wire or whatever.
posted by flug at 10:54 AM on June 14, 2020 [11 favorites]

I walk my dogs about 45 min every day and agree with everyone else...podcasts.
posted by thereader at 1:14 PM on June 14, 2020

Seconding doing it first thing in the morning. Get up a little earlier and get yourself out of the house as quickly as you can so you don't have time to talk yourself out of it. I don't listen to anything, I think of it as a walking silent meditation, helps me clear my head. I try to walk fast and swing my arms purposefully so that they and my shoulders get a workout too.

Start with 20 minutes, walk for ten minutes and turn around or loop back around. I stopped working a month ago so now my walks range from 50 to 80 minutes or so. You'd be amazed at what you see walking that you wouldn't notice driving. Weird plants, interesting curtains, strange bumper stickers. You get in a zone.
posted by mareli at 2:57 PM on June 14, 2020 [4 favorites]

Go birding! You can do it just about anywhere. Use the eBird and Merlin apps from Cornell University and it becomes like a big scavenger hunt.
posted by soy_renfield at 5:55 AM on June 15, 2020 [1 favorite]

I was used to biking to and from work, and then spent 2.5 months working from home. All my plans to incorporate a fake bike commute into my mornings, well, they just never happened. I didn't walk or bike except to do grocery shopping or get takeout. I'm back in the office now, though I've had to alter my route to avoid the crowded, narrow trail I used to take. It's so great to have that activity back in my daily rotation.

In conclusion: see what you can do to build some movement into the trips you can't avoid. If it's possible to walk or bike to work, try that. If it's possible to walk or bike to the grocery store or to pick up a takeout dinner, try that. If you've never examined whether it's possible to do those things without a car, try it!
posted by asperity at 9:54 AM on June 15, 2020

Since installing Pokemon Go on my phone 2 weeks ago, I've walked 70 kilometers, according to the stats in the game. Highly recommended.

Perhaps you can try geocaching?
posted by gakiko at 4:24 AM on June 16, 2020

I started doing Couch to 5k after coronavirus hit and to avoid crowded sidewalks I've been doing laps around a large, empty (albeit tree-lined/landscaped) parking lot nearby. When I walk I like to walk around an interesting neighborhood, but for this, the limited area has made the whole thing pleasantly meditative in a different way. I put on some music and the Couch to 5K app and focus on the challenge of moving my body without going too fast (which will burn me out before I'm done), not on the scenery or on paying attention to where I'm going. Because it's intervals/building up stamina, it's not boring.
posted by needs more cowbell at 6:08 PM on June 16, 2020

You’re going about it backwards: the motivation to walk comes after the habit you form in walking. Don’t wait until you feel like going out for a walk. Go out for a walk anyway and eventually it’ll be something that isn’t an option. Motivation isn’t necessary to do something. You don’t have to feel like doing it to do it.

Just find a time that is as convenient as possible to leave your front door. Maybe it’s in the morning, maybe it’s in the evening. Don’t set out for a specific length of time or distance. Just leave your front door and start walking at the same time every day.

You could zone out with a podcast or your favorite music. But I think it’s more helpful if you pay attention to the things around you. Notice your body as it moves- the way your feet feel on the pavement, the way the air feels, the smells and noises around you. Give your attention to the things you come across. Notice the birds and animals (learning to identify them is a bonus), acknowledge the people you come across (maybe a smile or a wave or that “what’s up” nod everyone does). Try to be as mindful as you can.

If it’s too hard to be mindful, do what you can and then zone out. If you find yourself unable to keep going for some reason, then turn around.

This isn’t something to fail at. You aren’t doing it “wrong” if you do it one way or another. Find what works for you. Whatever it is, just do it. Do it consistently. Do it long enough and you won’t have to think about it. Once you don’t have to think about it, you can lose yourself in it and it becomes even more restorative.

If you can’t manage to do it for a few days, don’t beat yourself up. Just do it the next day. Don’t dwell on things you haven’t done. Acknowledge them and move on.

If you are the journaling type, write down a few things about your walks every day. Maybe it’s that you were out longer than you had before. Maybe you found a neat rock. Maybe some jerk left trash in the road and it annoyed you. Whatever it is, write it out.

The pressure to do it the right way easily keeps you from doing it at all. Remove that pressure and the doing it is easier.
posted by shesaysgo at 11:19 PM on June 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Nothing gets me out and walking about more than an iPod full of interesting Podcasts that I'm anxious to listen to.

Download a bunch of interviews with interesting people, movie reviews, comedy podcasts, This American Life's, RadioLabs and set off.
posted by blueberry at 12:23 PM on June 20, 2020