By Ephrat Livni
Walk Your Way to Peace and Creativity
Even though life today is full of modern conveniences and technology, many of us still feel stressed, anxious, or burned out. Popular songs often talk about sadness and pressure. The word “burnout” became very popular in 2019, showing how many people feel overwhelmed. There’s so much advice available—through books, apps, and online experts—that it can be hard to know what actually helps.
One professor named Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, who teaches English at Belmont University in Tennessee, suggests a simple solution: go for a walk. She shares an old Latin saying, Solvitur ambulando, which means, “It is solved by walking.” By “it,” she means nearly anything that’s bothering you.
Whitehouse believes that walking can improve your health, calm your mind, and boost creativity. She even wrote a book called Afoot and Lighthearted, which is like a journal with activities, quotes, and facts about the benefits of walking. It includes inspiring words from famous thinkers, artists, and scientists, along with fun exercises to help you relax and reflect while walking.
This idea isn’t new. In the 1800s, the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said walking helped him feel better, think clearly, and shake off bad moods. He believed that no problem was too big to walk away from.
Whitehouse wants people today to use walking as a tool for dealing with stress and staying focused. She says that walking helps you be present in the moment, feel less anxious, and step away from all the digital distractions in our lives (as long as you’re not staring at your phone while walking!). She explains that when life feels too fast, walking is her way of slowing down and paying attention to what really matters.
She was inspired by Shakespeare too. In his play The Tempest, a character named Prospero says he will take a walk to calm his mind. Whitehouse started taking regular walks to feel peaceful and more focused. It worked so well that she even created a class about walking, writing, and well-being, which she’s taught for six years.
Her book is small and light, so you can carry it easily. It’s made to be opened to any page for quick ideas and encouragement—perfect for our busy lives. It’s like a helpful friend that reminds you to slow down and think creatively.
But you don’t need a book to get started. People have used walking to feel better and think clearly for thousands of years. Just going for a simple walk can help you clear your mind, solve problems, and feel more free. That’s why writer Rebecca Solnit once said that “democracy should be exercised regularly, on foot”—meaning that walking helps us connect with ourselves and the world in a powerful way.
Walking can also have a deep, spiritual effect. A Buddhist teacher named Thich Nhat Hanh taught that walking slowly and paying attention to each step and breath can be a form of meditation. He said that mindful walking helps us notice the good things in life and feel more at peace.
When we feel angry, worried, or upset, it’s easy to focus only on our problems. But walking mindfully helps us see what’s going well instead. According to Thich Nhat Hanh, every time we walk like this, we help ourselves and the world around us heal.
So, next time you’re feeling stressed, upset, or just bored, don’t rush to your phone or look up more advice online. Instead, take a walk—just like the famous composer Beethoven did every day at noon to refresh his creativity.
Walking might be the secret to unlocking your best ideas. At the very least, it will help you feel calmer. As poet Simon Armitage said, “You never come back from a walk feeling worse.”