There’s a productive exercise trend making waves on social media, and it’s called the “silly little walk.” It’s extremely easy to do and requires no equipment other than a solid pair of walking shoes. It’s gained quite a bit of attention under the #sillylittlewalk hashtag on TikTok—for good reason. The fitness trend starts by getting up and taking a little stroll outside, but we won’t spoil all the fun just yet!

Below, we outlined everything you need to know about the “silly little walk” workout trend and how to get started.

In This Article:

What Is the Silly Little Walk?

This outdoor walking trend prides itself on something to do that will make you feel better—mentally and physically—by getting active outside. (And we all know that some fresh air, vitamin D, and nature can work wonders on the mind, body, and soul!)

One TikToker dubbed her silly little walk “peace over everything,” while another TikTok user wrote in their video, “POV: You go on a silly little walk for your silly little mental health, and it actually works.”

Even when it’s incredibly cold outside, that’s no excuse—as long as your walking route is absolutely safe to walk, you’ll be so glad you carved out some time to do so. After all, everyone is hopping on the “silly little walk” bandwagon and reaping some pretty great physical and mental health rewards.

A Trainer’s #1 ‘Walk, Lift, Repeat’ Workout for a Toned & Lean Body

Now, as far as how you’d like to personalize your “silly little walk,” the sky really is the limit. You can opt for a few laps around your neighborhood, head to one of your favorite trails, see wherever your feet take you, or make plans to meet up with one of your besties as you enjoy your favorite caffeinated beverage, as a bunch of TikTokers are doing.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Catch up on your latest playlist while putting some serious distance to your outing, or even tailor your stroll to a personal “plogging” adventure. Every step you take counts, and hey—it’s healthy in more ways than one, so why not join in on the fun?

If you need a bit of inspiration, under the TikTok hashtag, you’ll find people documenting their walking routes and “silly little walk” adventures. The clips are likely to put a big smile on your face and motivate you to get up and active in the great outdoors.

People Are ‘Retro Walking’ & Swear by the Benefits: ‘My Posture Is Now Nearly Perfect’

The Importance of Staying Active—and Social

Even when the temperatures are a bit chilly or you feel inclined to push off your workout to the next day, it’s important to still get your body up and moving. That’s where the silly little walk comes in clutch. It’s a stellar, low-impact way to add extra movement to your day while catching up with a friend or two—zero excuses!

Being social has a huge impact on your mental well-being. Research has proven that bonding with people plays a role in your health. As a matter of fact, being socially isolated can negatively impact you, both physically and psychologically. An article in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior notes adults who have a lot of social connections tend to be much healthier and lead longer lives than their peers who isolate themselves.

How to Lose More Weight By Speeding Up Your Daily Walks

The Mental and Physical Benefits of the Silly Little Walk

By going on a silly little walk, you will get some valuable cardio and maybe even a bunch of laughs with friends. Reaping the benefits from physical exercise of any sort doesn’t mean the activity has to be a hardcore workout, either. A fun, brisk walk is all you need daily to increase your chances of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Walking will help you burn calories, along with maintaining or preventing several health disorders, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In addition to giving you a solid energy boost, walking can help strengthen your bones and muscles and enhance your balance and coordination.

Why People Are Ditching Regular Walks for ‘Nordic Walking’

A strong walk will bring your anxiety and stress levels down and put you in a much better mood. You will sleep better, too!

Researchers at the University of California studied almost 6,000 women who were 65 years of age and up. The study revealed that women who walk more often are less likely to experience a memory decline from age. More specifically, 17% of the women who walked the most on a weekly basis experienced memory decline, compared to 24% of the women who walked the least amount in the study.

Another previous study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science concluded that participants who took a 90-minute nature walk experienced less activity in the part of the brain that’s connected to one’s risk of developing a mental illness.

So even when it seems like you have absolutely no extra time in your schedule, do yourself a favor and get outside for a “silly little walk!” Your mind and body will certainly thank you—and getting active in the fresh air will feel so rejuvenating.

Alexa Mellardo

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – A new year means new resolutions, and one of the more common resolutions is getting fit and going to the gym.

Losing weight and getting fit sounds easy, but both are difficult tasks to complete. 

That’s why many people end up not following through with their resolutions just weeks after making them.

A local personal trainer says going to the gym is not the only thing you should do. 

He says that watching what you eat is a good step on top of regular physical exercise.

“The main thing is thinking about your health being more healthy is a big thing around in. Just trying to come in try to work on being healthy and trying to get back into it. Get back to the groove. The main thing is being consistent. Consistency is key. As long as you’re coming to the gym and just doing what you need to do to try to reach your goals consistently will get you there,” said Personal Trainer Manager at Club4 Fitness Tevin Roberts.

Roberts also says to have smaller goals put in place so you can see gradual changes in your health and fitness journey.

“Never be embarrassed. You know what you’re trying to do when you come to the gym. Make sure you keep your goal in mind. Make sure you are know what you’re doing when you come to the gym. So keep that in mind and focus on what you’re trying to accomplish. Worry about no one around you,” said Roberts.

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TOWSON, Md. — Any of you thinking about heading to the gym? Did you make a resolution to do so?

According to one National Institute of Health study, by the time next year rolls around, only 58% of us will have kept at it.

Photojournalist Kristi Harper looked into why that may be.

A lot of us are guilty of letting those New Year’s resolutions to get healthy slide away. So how do you keep at it?

Ali True Smith, who owns True Balance Studios in Towson, Maryland has some ideas on how to set yourself up to be fit and active in the long term.

“I realized this was the only thing that was going to hold me accountable to take care of myself.”

Ali has been in the fitness world since she was 15. She played lacrosse and studied exercise physiology and kinesiology in college. Afterward, she got certified in massage therapy and personal training. She knows bodies. She well knows the struggles that happen with trying to keep a good exercise routine.

“Maybe you took the month of December off because you were sick or injured or something. And then you jump in on January, and you’re trying to lift all the same weights that you were doing before. And then you get sore, too sore, so you don’t want to go back to the gym the next few days. And then you might even get injured, and then you get really discouraged.”

She says the key is taking the gym time to learn what your body needs to get it in its best form.

“There is an all-or-nothing mentality with working out. And people go too hard too fast, and then they can’t keep up with it… If you find guidance on how to properly strength train, you are really slow and controlled and mindful about what you’re doing, what your body is doing, being, you know, very aware of how your joints are moving and making that you’re training your muscles in a balanced way.”

To help, she made a flip book that shows you what to look out for.

It’s available from Amazon or at her studio. She says you need to figure out the right balance of strength, flexibility, and cardio work. It might sound like a lot, but if you craft your workout, you can fit it into a busy life.

She says, “It really depends on what your personality is and and figuring out, listening to what could work for you and managing your expectations. And setting goals that are attainable and not being too hard on yourself. Not trying too much too fast.”

Remember, you don’t have to jump in and go all out on day one. Spend a few weeks establishing the habit, and you’ll have a better chance of taking that resolution well into the year ahead.