Amid the changing seasons and cooler temperatures, walking has become a favored activity for many seeking physical health and emotional well-being. Jancee Dunn, host of the Well newsletter, highlights several personal and practical reasons for incorporating daily walks into one’s routine as fall unfolds.
Dunn emphasizes the versatility of walking as a tool to manage a range of emotions. For instance, she describes what she calls a “Rage Walk,” used to dissipate frustration after a taxing experience, such as lengthy waits on hold with the Internal Revenue Service. Conversely, she also takes “Melancholy Walks” to navigate feelings of sadness and impending loss, such as coping with her daughter preparing to leave for college next year. She notes that walking while listening to music or observing natural surroundings can offer comfort and even reveal moments of beauty amid difficult emotions.
Problem-solving is another benefit Dunn associates with walking. She participates in “Issue Walks” with close friends, using the physical activity to stimulate conversation and reflection on personal challenges. These walks often take place remotely, using earbuds to connect with friends in different locations while maintaining a steady pace.
Beyond emotional support, Dunn incorporates walking as a way to adapt routine activities. She and her supervisor hold weekly check-in meetings while strolling around their office block, and she has scheduled future catch-up phone calls to coincide with outdoor walks. Walking errands, such as trips to the post office, serve as simple ways to add movement to the day. Dunn has also adapted social routines to accommodate financial constraints—instead of meeting friends for lunch, she proposes walks, which have proven to foster lively and enjoyable conversations without the expense of dining out.
Walking’s benefits extend to physical health as well. Research indicates that regular walking can lower the risk of several types of cancer and heart disease, alleviate lower back pain, and strengthen bones. It also facilitates social interaction by providing opportunities to engage passersby. Dunn shares observations about how encounters with dog owners or interactions with children during walks often lead to spontaneous and warm exchanges.
She notes that walking is an activity accessible to all ages and can help deepen communication. For example, side-by-side conversations during walks may enable more open dialogue, especially among family members. Dunn describes encouraging her elderly father, aged 84, to join her for outdoor strolls, finding that shared movement combined with conversation strengthens their connection.
Dunn’s experience underscores the multifaceted value of walking—for physical health, emotional processing, social engagement, and adaptability in daily life—as the season prompts many to step outside and move.