"Ambulating through Hues: An Easy Method to Alleviate Stress"
Color Walks: A Mindful Take on Strolling for Wellness
Ever played "I spy" and thought it was rad AF? Color walks are kinda like a cooler, more grown-up version of that game. You pick a color, step outside, and hunt for things of the same hue. Hello, instant stress relief!
As psychology whiz, Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT, founder of Take Root Therapy, explains, mindfulness is the key to finding zen during rough times. When freakin' anxiety kicks in, color walks can be your go-to sanctuary from swirling thoughts. They're like a GPS for freedom, nudging your mind away from distress.
What Is a Color Walk?
May haven't encountered rucking or the 12-3-30 workout on socials, but TikTok's color walks sure have gained fame! Creators, searching for a self-care routine while also slaying their step count, popularized this workout. Color walks involve selecting a hue before your journey and focusing on that color exclusively.
Imagine you've chosen yellow. You'd be on the hunt for dandelions, school buses, even yellow traffic lights. Ellasandra Muse, a content creator, shared a video of her color walk, crediting it as a top remedy for anxiety. Charissa Bacon, another awesome creator, spotlighted a kayak, patio furniture, and a blue balcony on her color walk extravaganza!
In essence, color walks are a sneaky way to practice mindfulness. They let us enter a zen zone, fostering relaxation, focus, and even a touch of playfulness, as per Grace Lautman, mental health counselor. When stress attacks, mindfulness helps counteract its bad juju by engaging with your body's relaxation system.
How Do Color Walks Shake Up Regular Walks?
Walking is fantastic for our general wellness, reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems and boosting sleep quality. It even whips up feel-good chemicals called endorphins, which slash stress and supercharge your mood.
But sometimes, walking can feel like a workout without the TLC. If you're still engrossed in a taxing conversation or worried about pending deadlines, all that movement won't do much to soothe your soul. Color walks bend the rules by encouraging you to feel anchored and take control of your emotions during your journey.
Additionally, color walks cleverly combine physical activity with a connection to nature, giving your noggin' something new to chomp on instead of property maintenance or family responsibilities.
"Walking is like a smoothie for the soul because the rhythmic motion offers a sense of calm," Lautman smiles. Some folks struggle with traditional mindfulness exercises since they demand sitting or lying down without tapping into their thoughts. A color walk, on the other hand, might be the ideal choice if doing so feels like a brick wall.
Maximizing Your Color Walks
Color walks might be outta reach if you're trapped in a concrete jungle or have scant green spaces. But don't worry, there are sneaky ways to get your ground game on point. Lurie suggests employing other senses during your stroll. Listen to various sounds, savor scents, or run your fingers along textured surfaces like tree bark. Lautman recommends an alphabet walk, where you seek things whose names start with a specific letter.
Other grounding tactics include listing your favorite books, movies, or reciting song lyrics. Just remember that a color walk's main purpose is to keep your thoughts afloat and not let them drown in negativity.
Embrace Your Inner Hippie
There you have it, lovely voyagers! Color walks are the perfect blend of physical exercise and mental wellness. So, dust off your walking shoes, step outside, and let the wonderful world enchant you with its vibrant hues. Namaste, and happy trails!
Fun Fact: Did you know that observing colors can affect our mood? For example, green is zen-inducing, while yellow provides a much-needed energy boost!
Insight Source:
- (Color Psychology, 2021)
- (Goldenberg et al., 2019)
- (Kirkey et al., 2014)
- (Warburton et al., 2006)
- (Lekander, 2015)
- Color walks, as a form of self-care, promote relaxation and focus, much like the parasympathetic state in health, making it a mindful take on wellness, akin to the calming influence of realsimple routines, especially during stressful times.
- Just as the hue of yellow can provide a needed energy boost, color walks encourage grounding and focus on the present moment, offering an alternative to traditional mindfulness exercises that may feel overwhelming for some.
- Grace Lautman, a mental health counselor, states that color walks can help tap into your body's relaxation system, which, combined with the physical activity of walking, can lead to a sense of well-being and stress reduction, similar to the benefits derived from proper nutrition and wellness practices.
- Color walks, in essence, are not just about strolling for exercise, but also for nurturing mental health, much like how spies gather intel undercover, color walks disguise mental wellness practices as a fun and engaging activity, making self-care accessible and enjoyable.
