Step into Summer: Three walking trends to try right now

Though the debate continues on the number of daily steps necessary for optimal health, there's one thing we can all agree on: walking in any form is good for your health. So, as we saunter into summer, here are three different types of walks to spice up your step count.

1. Plalking: Popularized in Sweden, "plogging" is the act of picking up litter while jogging. Its walking counterpart is "plalking," and this version is arguably more popular with children (or at least it was with my 8 year old). 

Armed with gloves and bags, we made a game of our walk/plalk seeing who could pick up more trash along the journey. It also presented a unique opportunity to talk with my daughter about the importance of putting trash into bins and not littering our planet. As it turns out, she recently learned a lot at school about reduce-reuse-recycle, and she taught me a catchy song that's still stuck in my head to this day.

2. Color walks: Before heading out for your daily steps, select a color that you want to focus on finding while you walk. Being intentional about observing your surroundings can be transformational in terms of helping you quiet the mind and better embrace feelings of awe by noticing the colors--and beauty--that we might otherwise overlook on our everyday outings. 

As an urban dweller, color walks are a fun way to spot the slivers of nature tucked away in our concrete jungle. The "weeds" popping up in search of sunlight where the sidewalk meets the asphalt parking lots, the freshly sprouting leaves on a tree that provides shade at the trolley stop, and flowers blooming in planters and among the landscaping...it all reminds us that nature is everywhere, even in a bustling downtown environment.

3. Silent walks: As the name implies, a silent walk is when you leave the airpods at home (and *gasp* maybe even the phone) and take a walk without any audio distractions. When I visit new cities, I rarely walk or jog with headphones since the area is unfamiliar and I want my added sense of hearing to help me stay alert/safe.

It's always a fascinating experience to unplug on a walk and more fully tune into the sights, sounds, and smells I experience along the way. The birdsong, in particular, is something I savor the most while enjoying a silent walk.

Have you tried any of these walking trends? What was your experience? Or perhaps you have another trend you'd recommend. Tell us in the comments!