Walk it off

I want to share something with you that’s been supporting me lately.

Walking.

Not for exercise.

Not to check a box.

Just… walking.

Over the last several years, I’ve found myself returning to it again and again, especially on the days when my mind feels full or my emotions feel a little heavier than I’d like.

And I’ve noticed something simple but powerful:

When I walk, things begin to move… inside me.

There’s actually a reason for this.

When we walk, our body naturally moves in a left-right, left-right rhythm.

That gentle, alternating motion is called bilateral stimulation—and it’s the same principle used in certain therapies to help the brain process emotions and experiences.

I remember learning about this by reading, Walking Your Blues Away by Thom Hartman, and thinking, that makes so much sense.

Because haven’t you noticed?

When we sit and think about something, we can get stuck in it.

We replay it. Analyze it. Try to solve it.

But when we take it for a walk… something softens.

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And I’ll tell you something else I’ve noticed…

I often get my best ideas when I’m walking.

Not when I’m sitting at my desk trying to figure something out.

Not when I’m pushing or forcing clarity.

But when I’m moving.

And there’s a reason for that too.

Walking helps calm the more reactive, overthinking parts of the brain and gives space for the creative, solution-oriented parts to come forward.

It’s like your mind finally has room to breathe,

and in that space, ideas can rise up more naturally.

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I’ve had walks where I started out feeling:

overwhelmed, unsure, a little anxious.

And somewhere along the way, without forcing anything,

I felt lighter.

Not because I figured everything out, although I often do.

But because I didn’t have to carry it in the same way.

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If you want to try this, keep it really simple.

Take something that’s been on your mind,

and go for a 10–20 minute walk.

No ear buds. Just quiet.

You don’t need to fix it.

You don’t need to analyze it.

Just let your body move…

and trust that your mind will follow.

A softer way to think about it might be:

“I’ll take this for a walk… and see what shifts.”

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This isn’t about doing more.

It’s about giving yourself a little space,

a little movement,

a little support.

And sometimes, that’s all we need.

If you try it, I’d love to hear what you notice.

With you,

Marcy