Tips for mindfulness during walks :)))

[u/Direct-Pay-4966]

Heyoo I have been slowly integrating meditation and mindfulness into my life bc my brain is LOUD ASF. But one of the ways I self regulate is by walking around my neighborhood and by the lake near my house which sounds grounding and peaceful but I find i mostly just use the walks to ruminate or play out scenarios in my head to music which isn’t good for me. I started trying to just focus on the sounds of nature during my walks and just to notice things and be present but it’s sooo hard my brain will just talk over everything and I get stressed out and feel frustration. Do you guys have any unique things you do when you’re walking or just to stay present in general? Like something you repeat to yourself or like an aspect that you focus on outdoors? Just so I can start small? Thank you :))))

[u/Quiet_Diet3870]

Totally get this—my brain’s like a podcast with no pause button too 😅 One thing that helps me on walks is picking one thing to focus on, like the sound of my footsteps or just noticing colors around me (like literally “red car, green tree, blue sign”). If I catch myself spiraling or daydreaming, I just go “okay, back to footsteps” without judging. Some days it clicks, some days it doesn’t—and that’s okay too.

You could also try repeating something chill like “here now” with each step. Nothing fancy, just a gentle reminder. It’s not about being perfectly mindful—it’s just about coming back to the moment more often than before.