Want to know what the ultimate life hack is?

In my opinion, it’s walking outside. Not an elaborate 12-step morning routine, or whatever else your mind can conjure up.

Walking is also one of the most basic physical acts of all time. You don’t need to use your mental resources for it, unless maybe you’re crossing the road or you find yourself in unknown territory one day. You just put one foot in front of the other like you’ve done since you were a baby. And I believe this simple act is an essential part of a well-lived life.

As I’ve gone on more and more walks over the years, I’ve come up with some ideas about walking to better understand it. Here are four of those ideas about why you would benefit from incorporating walking into your own routine:

1 – Walks Can Suck (At the Start)

For me personally, some walks feel like a real battle. I’ve committed to the act of walking outside every day now, forcing myself to do it unless I absolutely physically can’t (most times, I can). When it’s time for a walk, I might dread it even though I’ve chosen to do it. At that moment, I want to stay inside. I want to stay comfortable. I want to remain glued to my chair and my desk.

Even though I know of the research telling me why I should get more steps in, it still feels horrible sometimes to go out there and do it, especially if the weather outside isn’t great. It’s easy to make excuses before you’ve even started.

I manage to get outside anyway and the battle begins. All that effort to get myself up and get walking amounts to nothing more than just regular walking. Nobody’s praising me, of course, commending my great effort with applause. I don’t feel instantly healthier after each step I take.

It’s as normal a walk as me going to a store to buy a carton of milk but this time, I’m just going for a stroll around a park with no real purpose. Triggered, my mind starts generating reasons to quit, to use my time more productively when this already is a productive use of my time, and when I’ve chosen to be here in the first place.

Once you can get past this initial discomfort, you unlock the hidden greatness of walking. You feel as if you’re gliding effortlessly in a state of mental bliss, in the flow state of walking, a state I revisit over and over again which fails to disappoint.

Doing this makes you mentally stronger. You’ve shut your mind up when it’s told you that what you’re doing is pointless. You’ve won a little battle for the day and you’re likely to win more of these decisive battles in the future. And of course, your body will thank you for it.

2 – Walks in Nature Humble You

In this age, we are so immersed in our work and various responsibilities that we’ve forgotten about the natural world around us. We spend hours staring at computer screens and our phones, and we’ve forgotten that this is never how we were meant to live in the first place.

Walks in general are great but walks in nature specifically are elite for many reasons. The first is that nature has many reported positive effects on the brain such as reduced stress and improved focus. Who doesn’t want that?

Walking in nature makes us feel connected to the natural world. When I stare at trees far taller than I could ever be, in awe, I’m helpfully reminded that I’m not the greatest and most important thing ever. Sometimes you forget about the plants and wild animals out there, who have lives to live and need to respire and grow like us. Just thinking about that makes you realise how beautiful life is.

Importantly, nature humbles you. Think: some trees could be born before you and die long after you. You’re reminded how you’re just a tiny part of the whole world, aren’t you? But without you or anything else, the world wouldn’t be the same. We’re all in this together.

3 – Walks Give You Clarity

It can be hard to think when you’re constantly distracted online, or when you’re inside. The walls that surround you in your room can feel as if they’re narrowing your thinking just like they’re confining you inside.

When you go outside for a walk, you are surrounded by so much more space. You have real freedom now. There’s no chance you’ll manage to hit your head on the ceiling or run into a wall. You can move however you want and you can think however you want. Your brain is free from the root of its mental madness. You can enjoy the sounds of nature in your ears and silence in your mind.

The space allows your mind to think and work on all its problems, so creativity can flourish. Whatever problems you’ve had regarding your business or school, for example, can now be worked on. You can generate unique ideas to solve those problems. For once, you can think. Isn’t that beautiful?

And last but not least, the fresh air. Who doesn’t want some good fresh air? It really does ease the overworked mind.

4 – Walks Give You A Sense of Control

While I’ve been promoting walks in nature, the reality is that you can walk wherever you want and you’ll still benefit from walking. You could walk in your room, around the office, on the street, or wherever you want. It doesn’t matter.

There’s no one way to walk. You can walk a marathon or a few meters. You can go as fast or slow as you want. You can walk with friends or alone. You can walk in the early morning or in the night. You can walk as part of a competition or just to relax. You can even walk while reading if you want. There are no rules for walking; make it as fun or serious as you want.

The important thing is that you have control over how you walk. In an age where we’re possessed by technology and forced to listen to certain people telling us what to do or believe, walks are something that we can control. Walks empower us, helping us to reclaim control over our lives.