Awe Walk Practice

What is Awe Walk Practice?

Walk slowly for 15-20 minutes with the explicit intention of finding things that inspire awe: the vastness of the sky, the complexity of a leaf, the engineering of a building, a stranger's kindness. Research shows awe walks reduce inflammation, increase generosity, and boost life satisfaction.

Is there evidence for it?

How do you do Awe Walk Practice?

1. 1.Go for a 15-20 minute walk with one intention: notice things that are bigger, more complex, or more beautiful than your everyday problems
2. 2.Walk slowly and look UP more than forward. The sky, treetops, architecture, clouds — shifting your gaze upward literally shifts your emotional state
3. 3.When something catches your attention (a sunset, a child laughing, a massive tree, intricate graffiti), STOP. Really look at it for 30 seconds. Let yourself feel small in a good way
4. 4.Take a photo if it helps you remember, but spend more time looking than photographing
5. 5.Do this 1-2x per week. Virginia Sturm's study at UCSF found that 8 weeks of weekly awe walks significantly reduced daily anxiety and increased pro-social emotions

How long does it take?

15-20 minutes per walk.

Is it hard to start?

easy.

This is one entry from the library Shift matches against. It is general information, not advice about you, and nothing on this page came from anyone's conversation.