The Benefits of a Silent Winter Walk

In the last week I’ve taken three solo, quiet walks on a snowy trail through the woods by our house. Well, not completely solo, Daisy comes with me but she doesn’t have much to say. And okay . . . actually two solo and one with Gareth so he could get some photos . . . but there wasn’t much talking.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a great “walk and talk” with friends. Veronica, my regular walking bestie from my Texas days, used to joke that our long walks were the equivalent of free therapy sessions. We’d get the mental health benefits of a vigorous outdoor walking workout while we hashed over (and usually solved) all our worries and concerns. Win-Win! I’ve since moved to Colorado and Veronica has moved to Italy (let’s all feel sorry for her 😉), so with the time difference, its really tough to get in even a remote walk and talk. I do have neighbors here that I walk with (mostly in the summer), but I miss those walks with my dear friend.

Fortunately, I live in a place where getting out into nature is as easy as walking out my front door. But even if you live in a big urban area, I bet you have relatively easy access to a beautiful park or nature preserve with trails. So take this as your sign to, on occasion, forgo your neighborhood walking route, and take that energy to a setting that allows you to be immersed in nature. Even when . . . or especially when it’s cold.

Leave your earbuds behind and take a scheduled break from your usual walking soundtrack – music, podcast, audiobook – you won’t need them. This is an exercise in tuning into your surroundings and allowing yourself to fully experience a cold winter walk in nature.

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake. 

Robert Frost, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy evening

Benefits of taking a Solo Walk in Nature

The complete sensory immersion takes up all the space in my brain and allows all of the thoughts that are crowded in there to disappear for a while. I’m not good at meditation . . . my mind wanders in a million different directions. But I think this experience of being alone in these peaceful, snowy woods is the closest I’ve come to “successful” meditation because I’m just there . . . fully absorbed by my surroundings and tuning out all of the noise in my brain.

My solo winter walks in nature have allowed me to fully take in and experience everything that my senses are feeling:

• Sound is hushed and muffled – like a soft whisper.
• I feel gentle cool flakes falling on my face; slightly tingly and refreshing.
• Cold air and snow smells pure, crisp, fresh and clean.
• I let some snowflakes fall on my tongue and they taste like the air smells – clean, crisp, and fresh.
• I see the woods, but they are softened by the snow. The normally dramatic views are made gentler by the falling snow.

This type of walking is not just about moving our bodies, it’s about tuning into our surroundings and experiencing them in a meditative way. As someone who’d earn an “F” in meditating in a quiet room, this immersive experience in nature helps me earn an “A”, and for the first time I get why meditation is such a valuable tool for us.

4 BIG Health Benefits of Taking Winter Walks

Each New Year kicks off with all of this energy. We’re all about embracing Resolutions and that “New Year New Me” hype. However, the shorter, darker days and winter weather can quickly zap that energy. So, aside from embracing the unique beauty that comes with winter, we may need a little more motivation . . . I’ve got you!

1. The cold outdoor temperature makes your body have to work harder to maintain its core temperature. This extra, let’s call it “bonus work” of thermoregulation, increases our cardiac output in order to circulate more oxygenated blood through our body, and burns more calories.
2. Cooler temperatures can help us think more clearly. Now that I’m working from home, I find that if I’m cooped up too much, my thoughts get stale and I can lose focus. Getting outside in the cold air clears my head and gives my creativity a boost.
3. Safe Exposure to cold temperatures has been found to boost immunity. Specifically, cold temperatures have been shown to increase the production of interleukins (which regulate our immune and inflammatory responses) and immunoglobulins (proteins that identify and destroy infected cells).
4. Cold temperatures also benefit our skin by stimulating collagen production.

Thank you for taking this little journey with me today, friends.

It’s interesting how such a small and simple thing can give you such a profound experience. I hope you take some time to give yourself this gift. Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow!