Quick Tips: The Hot Girl Walk
There isn't a lot from the months and months of COVID-19 lockdown that I find myself missing, but there are a few things that were born during that era of my life that I still very much enjoy. One such practice is the "Hot Girl Walk." The colorful terminology for what is just a walk around your neighborhood was coined on TikTok and popularized during the pandemic when there wasn't much else to do outside of your home but get some socially distanced outdoor exercise. As the restrictions were lifted, people's daily jaunts evolved from ways to kill time into how they chose to travel between local errands, such as coffee runs or quick trips to buy a missing but necessary ingredient at the grocery store. Today, I find they are a great way to clear your head and re-center yourself as the main character from within the chaos of life.
The extended 'Hot Girl Walk' is a relatively new concept to me. Since London is so much more walkable than Los Angeles–and my car was not high enough on my list of necessities to warrant its own trip across the pond–weather permitting, my chosen form of transportation has become my own two feet.
Pro-Tip: Keep a running playlist of the songs that resonate the most with you at the moment and use it to soundtrack your stroll (I've included mine below <3).
Even on days when I do not have a lot going on or a chosen destination in mind, I like to get out into the open air. Sometimes, I will stuff a book in my tote bag and catch a bus to the park of my choosing, meandering on the well-worn paths until I find a suitable place to sit and read. Other times, when I don't feel like carrying much with me, I have started to just let my feet wander a route of their own choosing, letting my brain chew on issues and thoughts I am not ready to consciously face. It's incredibly relaxing, and I imagine why so many people voluntarily run for exercise. While my pace would often not even be considered brisk, it does the job. And, when I'm tired, I just find the nearest public transport route home.
I know this is not something everyone has the time or ability to do, but if you have somewhere local you can go and spend some time doing a bit of passive exercise, I promise it's worth it and an easy way to feel like the lead of your life once again.
