I discovered the idea of a Color Walk on TikTok a few years ago, and I have been telling everyone about it ever since! Mark and I went together in the spring, and we had such a lovely afternoon following colors around a park and neighborhood. It was calming, grounding, and restorative.
What is a Color Walk?
A Color Walk, not to be confused with the Color Run, is when you allow a color to guide you on a walk. You don’t pick a route, you don’t pick a path. You simply let the color lead.
To start, pick a color, any color! It could be your favorite color, one you have been drawn to lately, or a vibrant color that stands out.
Once you’ve picked your color, you can either drive somewhere, such as a park, an aesthetically pleasing neighborhood, a city, or just step outside your front door. No need to go far. Once you are outside, scan the immediate area and find something of your color! It could be anything! Is it a flower, a flyer, a mailbox, a sign, an awning…? So many possibilities!
Walk towards it, observe it, and then find the next thing with your color. Continue on your path. You are allowing your color choice to guide you.
You may even want to take photos or videos of your colored objects. This is a fun way to commemorate your walk. You can take photos or videos of your colored objects, or go tech-free and turn this walk into a mindful walk. Simply walking, observing, and reflecting while you enjoy being in nature. There is no set time for the Color Walk.
Your Color Walk can be as long or as short a walk as you would like. Just be mindful of where you end up and how you can get home if you turn this into an extended walk.
Though great as a solo activity, the Color Walk is also a lot of fun to do with loved ones, especially if you pick different colors. You can work together to try and walk in a similar direction by finding both or all of your colors.
Why you should take yourself
on a Color Walk
There are countless benefits to walking in nature- psychological, physical, emotional…
- Improves cardiovascular fitness
- Strengthens your bones and muscles
- Improves muscle endurance
- Increases energy levels
- Boosts your mood
- Improves cognition and memory
- Improves sleep quality
- Improves your balance and coordination
- Strengthens your immune system
- Reduces stress and tension
- Lowers anxiety and depressive symptoms
A Color Walk has the added benefit of combining a physical activity with mindfulness. Being guided by color allow yourself to get lost, exploring a new area, and forming a deeper connection with your community.
There are no rules to the Color Walk. Pick a color that resonates with you and be on your way! Have fun outside by adding some color to your walk.