Every day I look forward to my walks.
Whether it’s waking up early, grabbing a cup of coffee, and heading out to watch the sunrise, or taking an evening walk after a long day of work, walking has become one of my favorite parts of the day.
I’m a creature of habit, and my walks have become part of my routine. If I don’t get my walk in, something feels off.
Getting out and about is one of my favorite things to do. It’s relaxing. It’s calming. Some of my best ideas have come while walking.
Over the past year, I’ve also started doing something that felt strange at first.
Leaving My Phone at Home
The first time I left my phone at home, I definitely felt some anxiety.
What if I missed an important phone call?
What if I wanted to stop at a gas station or local coffee shop and buy a drink or a snack? I wouldn’t be able to use Apple Pay.
What if I saw something cool and wanted to take a picture of it?
As a designer, I take a lot of photos for inspiration, so not having a camera in my pocket felt a little uncomfortable.
But after about a week, I realized something.
I didn’t miss it.
If there was an important phone call, it was still there waiting for me when I got home.
If I wanted to buy something, I could bring my wallet.
And if I missed taking a photo, it wasn’t the end of the world.
I wasn’t dying.
I was just fine without my phone for thirty to forty-five minutes while I was out walking.
Things I Started Noticing
Without the constant distraction of my phone, I became more aware of the world around me.
I started noticing birds flying overhead.
People walking their dogs.
Parents playing with their kids at the park.
Kids riding bikes through the neighborhood.
I noticed old buildings being torn down and new ones being built.
New businesses moving in.
Parks filling up with people.
I noticed my city growing and changing.
I’ve walked these same streets hundreds of times over the years, and for a long time I didn’t really pay attention.
I was in my head, and my head was often in my phone.
Now that I’ve started leaving my phone at home, I’ve begun noticing a lot more.
Even though my route rarely changes, I keep seeing new things on the same streets I’ve walked for years.
The route hasn’t changed much.
I’ve simply learned to pay attention.
Mental Photos
One thing I didn’t expect was how much I would stop caring about taking pictures.
I don’t need to photograph everything I see.
Most of the photos I take end up buried in my Photos app anyway, never to be looked at again.
These days, I take more mental pictures.
If I see a beautiful sunset, an interesting building, or something that catches my eye on a walk, sometimes I’d rather stop and enjoy the moment than reach for a camera.
Not every memory needs to be documented.
Some moments are enough just as they are.
A Dog in the Park
The other day I was watching an owner play fetch with his dog at the park.
That dog was completely in the moment and looked like the happiest dog on the planet.
He chased that ball back and forth without a care in the world.
He wasn’t thinking about likes, comments, text messages, or missed phone calls.
He was simply enjoying the moment.
Watching him reminded me how often we miss the present because we’re distracted by everything else.
It also made me miss my own dogs.
Walking Helps Me Think
Some of my best ideas come while I’m walking.
Design ideas.
Solutions to problems.
Future blog posts.
Sometimes I head out with a problem that’s been bothering me, and by the time I get home, I have a solution.
Walking has a way of creating space for ideas to show up.
Walking Helps Me Stop Thinking
But the opposite is also true.
Sometimes I don’t want to think.
Sometimes I just want to decompress.
Life can be overwhelming.
Work can be stressful.
Our brains can get tired.
Walking gives me a chance to step away from all of it for a little while.
I don’t need to solve anything.
I don’t need to be productive.
I can simply walk and be present.
And that’s a lot easier to do when I’m not carrying a distraction in my pocket.
The Changing Seasons
One of the reasons I love walking so much is that every season brings something different.
In the summer, I enjoy the early mornings and late evenings before the heat takes over the day.
Fall is probably my favorite season. The weather cools down, the leaves begin changing colors, and everything feels a little calmer.
Winter has its own beauty. There’s something peaceful about walking with a warm cup of coffee while snow sits on the ground.
And in the spring, the trees begin to bloom again, birds return, and everything feels new.
Every season has something worth noticing.
Most people barely notice the seasons changing anymore.
Do you?
Final Thoughts
Walking around, taking in the world around me, and leaving my phone at home has brought a sense of calm and clarity back into my life.
I’ve realized that the world is a lot more interesting than I used to give it credit for.
The route hasn’t changed much.
I’ve simply learned to pay attention.
Maybe that’s my challenge to you.
Leave your phone at home for one walk.
Take in the world around you.
See what you notice.
Comments are currently disabled.
Disconnect to Reconnect is about spending less time online and more time enjoying life beyond the screen. While comments are disabled, I encourage you to take what resonates with you, step away from your device, and reconnect with what matters most.