Summer Lessons to Take Into Your Fall Walks

A few months ago, as I was looking ahead to the chaotic summer months, I was well aware that it was time to change my perspective. While the school months had been about regular morning walks after dropping my kid off at school, summer routines were looking much less predictable. I knew I needed to adjust. And that’s when I put together the post “How to Keep Walking When Your Routine Changes (Again!) for Summer.” And as I thought more about it—about the adjustments and flexibility required to keep moving throughout the summer—the Summer of Simple Walking series was born.

For the past few months, then, we’ve found ways to adjust. We’ve focused on consistency over perfection by challenging ourselves to walk every day in June. We’ve talked about ways to fit in a walk when it feels like there’s just no time. We’ve embraced Coffee Mom Walks, and we’ve found all kinds of ways to make walks feel more like summer adventures. I even chose Music Monday tracks that were perfect for quick Walking Snacks throughout the day—because sometimes you’ve just got time to fit in one song before racing off to the next thing.

And now, here we are: in those transition weeks between summer and fall. The kids are back in school, the weather is beautiful, but life is still a little chaotic—just in a different way. Summer vacations turned into back-to-school events. Summer volleyball practices and open gyms gave way to school volleyball practices (six days a week!) and games (two or three nights a week). Though the days tend to be a little quieter, they’re still full. So after a few months of focusing on keeping it simple during the summer, here are some valuable lessons that we learned that we can take into our walks during the fall, the winter, and the spring, too.

You Don’t Have to Go Long or Far. You Just Have to Go

Some days, you’ll have the time to hit the trail for an invigorating five-mile walk through the woods. Others, you’ll be racing between appointments and extra-curricular activities and trying to figure out how/when/what everyone is going to eat—and the only walking time you’ve got is while you’re waiting for the oven to preheat or your coffee to brew. Over the summer, I took to heart the wise words of Tim Gunn: make it work.

Ideally, I would love to go for a nice, long walk on the trail every single day. But sometimes that’s just not possible. But even fitting in a Walking Snack or two during the day makes a difference. Because things like miles and pace and time don’t really matter. Movement matters.

Consistency Is Key

This lesson builds on the last one, once again shifting perspective and priorities.

Our Walk Every Day in June Challenge stressed the importance of consistency in our walking routine. Again, some days are busier than others. There will be days when a long, leisurely walk just isn’t possible. But you absolutely can find ways to move every single day—even if it’s just for 10 minutes. And if you make it a priority to move every single day instead of giving up if you don’t have a spare hour, you’re more likely to make it a habit.

Make Your Walks Fit into Your Life

Life looks different at every stage. Maybe you’ve got full-time classes and homework—or a full-time job and a social life. Maybe you’ve got tiny kids who need constant supervision. Maybe you’ve got older kids who need entertainment and playdates. Maybe you’ve got teenagers with a whole lot of extra-curricular activities. Or maybe you’re an empty-nester who’s filling the extra time with extra work hours or volunteer opportunities. Or maybe you’ve got all kinds of extra time on your hands. Whatever your days look like, it’s important to find ways to make your walks fit. Look for openings in your busy schedule. Connect walks to other regular activities. Learn to multi-task by walking with friends—or while on work calls. If you make your walks fit into your life—instead of trying to work your life around your walks—you’re more likely to keep up your routine.

A Good Walking Buddy Makes the Miles Fly By

One weekend, I connected with a walking friend that I hadn’t seen in a while. We ended up meeting at 1:00 on a hot, steamy Sunday afternoon—but while I probably would have felt every sweaty step of that walk if I’d been on my own, we just kept talking…and walking. It never even occurred to me to say, “It’s really hot. Why don’t we just call it a day?” And by the time we realized that we probably needed to wrap it up, we’d walked more than seven miles.

Most of us have our own ways of passing the time while walking—whether it’s a favorite podcast, an upbeat playlist, a fun audiobook, or even meditation. But nothing makes the miles fly quite like a walk with a friend.

Walking Is Self-Care

When life gets busy, you might think it makes sense to skip your walk. After all, it takes up time that you could use to run an errand or finish some chores or even sit on the couch and watch an episode of your favorite show. But you need to remind yourself that movement is self-care. Even a short walk can boost your mood and increase your energy levels. It can even help you sleep better at night. And if you happen to be walking in nature, that makes it all even better.

Don’t think of walking as a chore that just needs to be checked off your to-do list. If you see it for what it is—a time to improve your physical and mental health—you’re more likely to make it a priority.

Every Walk Can Be an Adventure

This summer, we found ways to make walking an adventure—a way to enjoy nature or see experience something new or visit a place we’ve never been before. We’ve connected with friends and walked to get coffee and taken the time to appreciate nature. And that turns your daily walk into something fun and interesting instead of just the same old thing.

Coffee After a Walk Is One of Life’s Simple Joys

Whether it’s an iced coffee in my favorite cup at home or a run through the Dunkin drive-thru for something a little more special, that post-walk coffee just makes every day a little better. And it’s more rewarding knowing I’ve put in the work and earned it.

This summer was a chaotic time, but it was also a great learning experience—a time to learn how to adjust, to pivot…and also to practice what I preach. And I’ll be taking those lessons with me into the fall and beyond.

What did the summer teach you​?