I’ll never forget one specific Saturday morning during the early days of COVID.
We had just started offering virtual training sessions. That morning, we had an 8 a.m. Zoom class and a 10 a.m. Zoom class. After finishing the 8 a.m. class, I felt disappointed by how few members had signed up. I remember wondering how long we’d be stuck in this new reality—doing Zoom workouts instead of training in person.
After that class, I just wanted to go for a walk to think. At the time, I had never really done that—gone on a walk with no destination, no headphones, no purpose other than to just think. I ended up walking four laps around my neighborhood. Each lap was about 10 minutes. I didn’t listen to a podcast or music. I just walked.
By the time I returned for the 10 a.m. Zoom class, I had a completely different mindset. I felt more clear-headed. I realized that no matter how long we were going to be in that situation, we were eventually going to be out of it. After that second Zoom class, I went for another walk and thought even more. When I got back, I took notes on everything that had come to mind during those walks.
Looking back, I’d consider that to be the first day I became interested in walking as much as possible. And over time, I’ve realized that walks serve different purposes depending on how you approach them. For me, walks typically fall into one of three categories:
1. Input Walks
These are when I listen to something—usually a podcast or audiobook. The goal is to learn something, get inspired, or just enjoy good content.
2. Output Walks
These are when I walk specifically to think. No headphones. Just me, my thoughts, and maybe a notebook. These are some of my most creative walks—the kind where I come up with ideas for content, new systems, or ways to improve the business. (In fact, I’m on one of those walks right now as I write this email.)
3. Meditative Walks
These are slower, quieter walks. No input, no pressure to come up with anything. Just being present—paying attention to my surroundings, my breathing, and letting thoughts pass through without grabbing onto them.
The point is—you don’t need to make every walk productive or inspiring or relaxing. You can walk however you want. And if you ever feel stuck, anxious, or unsure about something, try a 10-minute walk. It might be exactly what you need.