Why Walking is Underrated

In a world obsessed with speed, walking feels almost rebellious. We rush from meeting to meeting, from station to station, but rarely consider the value of simply moving at a human pace. Yet walking has been with us since the beginning—it is the oldest form of travel, and perhaps the most natural.

A short walk after lunch can clear the fog of the mind. A longer walk in the evening can untangle problems that seemed impossible behind a desk. Scientists write about the benefits of walking for memory, creativity, and heart health. Writers and philosophers have long praised it as well: Nietzsche said all great thoughts are conceived while walking.

Unlike running or cycling, walking requires no special gear. Shoes, maybe, but even that is negotiable. It costs nothing. It demands little. And yet it gives much in return: fresh air, movement, a chance to notice the world.

In crowded cities, walking reconnects us to our surroundings. We start to recognize the same trees, the same faces at bus stops, the same little shops. On trails or country roads, walking reminds us how vast and quiet the earth can be.

In the end, walking is not just exercise. It is a form of thinking, a form of being present. And perhaps in slowing down, we find the very speed we’ve been searching for.