‘Silent walking’ is the latest viral trend that is taking Gen Z by storm.
Gen Z-ers are no strangers to an internet fad.
Some of their suggestions include canceling skinny jeans and losing their mind over the ‘bed rotting’ trend.
But now there is something else that is taking Zoomers by storm.
In a TikTok video shared by Mady Maio – who is the co-host of the Okay Sis podcast – she claims to have ‘unintentionally started a movement’ that she promises will ‘change your life.’
This trend is known as ‘silent walking’ – and it’s generated quite the discussion online.
The reaction to this new trend has been mixed on social media, with some people sharing their experiences with ‘silent walking.’
One person writes: “I’ve been doing this for two months daily. And it’s GAME CHANGING.”
Another viewer shares: “I tried this! All my brain could think about was the last TikTok I saw. I had the ‘white people taco night’ song stuck in my head for an hour.”
“I love silent walking!! Great for manifesting,” adds a third.
However, others have mocked the video.
One person says: “Is this real? This is just walking… like how people did it before technology.”
“Gen Z just discovered walking y’all,” writes another person – accompanied by laughing emojis.
Someone else pens: “So just going for a walk like we all did in the 90s???”
So, what is ‘silent walking,’ you might ask? Well, let us explain.
It is actually something everyone pretty much did before technology became a significant part of our day-to-day life.
Essentially, it involves going on a walk without a phone, or without listening to music, podcasts, or having any sort of technological distraction.
In the video, which has racked up just under 500,000 views, Maio says: “No AirPods, no podcasts, no music. Just me, myself, and I.
“And at first I was like f*** no, my anxiety could never – which is probably what you’re thinking – but something within me was like let me just try it.”
The podcaster says while the first two minutes of her walk were ‘mayhem,’ she soon embarked on a ‘flow state’ and you can ‘suddenly hear yourself.’
Maio explains to her followers that ‘silent walking’ has given her the ‘clarity’ she had always been looking for.
“Look, the universe and your intuition come to you through whispers, so if you’re never alone with your thoughts and you never get quiet you’re gonna miss the whispers,” she continues.
“And those whispers are the most important to be paying attention to… suddenly all these ideas are flowing into me because I’m giving them space to enter.
“Look, if I can do it, you can do it. I promise, just try it out… Give yourself the gift of getting quiet and listening to those whispers.”
While Maio may have been the one to make ‘silent walking’ a viral trend, she wasn’t the one who came up with the term – as this was reportedly established by New York City influencer Arielle Lorre back in January.
She too has spoken about the benefits of silent walks – saying that she feels all her senses instantly go to high alert.
Lorre explained: “I smell everything, I hear everything, I am seeing everything, and it’s so grounding for me,” she said.
“I know the hot girl walk had its moment. I’m trying to make the silent walk girl, or guy, or whatever, a thing.”
While people are enjoying themselves and making fun of this new trend, it does highlight how dependent we all are on technology – to the point where some people think going on a 30-minute walk without any devices is ‘game-changing.’
Numerous studies have shown that spending time online can have a drastic impact on your mental wellbeing.
According to Science Daily, an over-reliance on your device can lead to lazy thinking and can significantly reduce our cognitive function.
So ‘silent walking’ could help boost the mental processes we use to understand information and turn it into knowledge, as per James Cook University.