YouAsk Kim
A woman in a seated twist on a green mat in a sunlit room, an olive tree and the sea behind her

Move · 30 min

A walk with something to find

A walk with a small mission: a view, a type of tree, a bench you have never sat on.

30 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Walks can become routine, the same loop at the same pace. Giving a walk a small mission makes it feel more like an adventure and less like exercise, and it often takes you somewhere you have never been, even close to home.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Before you go, choose a small mission: find five different trees, a view you have not seen before, a bench to sit on, a door painted an unusual colour.

  2. Head out for thirty minutes, at an easy pace, and let the mission guide which way you go.

  3. When you find what you were looking for, stop and take it in. A photograph or a note helps you remember.

  4. Next time, choose a different mission, and see where it takes you.

The reason

Why it helps

Having something to look for makes walking more interesting and helps the time pass easily. It encourages us to notice our surroundings and to explore new routes. Many people find they walk further, without noticing, when they are curious about what is round the corner.

A gentle variation

If walking far is hard, keep the mission small and close: find three birds from a bench, or a flower in each front garden on your street. If you use a wheelchair or walking aid, choose a route with smooth paths and places to rest.

Friends resting after a game, the sea behind them

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

Give each person in the group a different mission, or make it a game with children: who can spot the most dogs, the most red doors, the oldest tree.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

Today, choose one small thing to look for, and take a thirty-minute walk to find it.

Add it to your day

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