"I went for a walk to clear my head"

[StarShop]

What does that mean? Not scenrio specific but when I walk I think:

My jeans are falling down don't wear these ones again to walk in

Oh a person, awkwardly avoid eye contact

Noome around, its quiet, I could get raped/mugged/murdered.

Ooh I really need to work on my fitness

So basically, I don't clear my head at all, would love to know if anyone can describe what the phrase means for them!

Mostly, because I’m normally trailing my much fitter DH, I’m thinking ‘Fuck, slow down, I’m going to have a heart attack/fall over the dog’. I need to get fitter. 😢

Walking doesn’t really “clear my head” of thoughts - it clears it of fuzziness. It Wakes me up a bit and makes me feel “clearer headed” as in more alert.

For me it means a bit if time to myself.

No one chatting, asking for things, making noise etc.

Fresh air and some peace and quiet from time to time is pretty essential for me.

To me, it means a lot of the time, and particularly over Christmas, I am caught up in minutae. When I have a chance to be outside and away from people I have a chance to refocus and realise that being (eg) told the same boring story three times in an hour doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. It's a mental reset button.

I like to go for a walk to think through anything I'm worried about. Sometimes if I go out far enough on rural lanes and there's noone about I will talk outloud, sometimes just to myself and sometimes to a particular person who has been annoying me. It does clear my head in much the same way as writing down negative thoughts gets them out of my brain so I'm less likely to blow up at such a person irl

I go off into fantasy land! I think up plots for novels and lyrics for songs. I also think about the houses I pass....admire them, imagine who lives in them.

I spent much of my life in a big city, and going for a walk never really appealed. I would've happily walked miles to a destination, but never just walking for walking's sake. I now live in the Yorkshire Dales, and have a cocker spaniel, and going out for a walk has become part of my life that I couldn't live without.
Being on my own, in the hills, watching the dog run free, and inhaling clean air has brought such an improvement to my quality of life and my mental good health. I enjoy nature like I never thought I would, seeing deer and hares, birds that I don't yet recognise so need to look up, watching the changing in the seasons, and the change in agriculture - it gives me a sense of perspective. As a city person, I genuinely didn't think I'd be like this, but I love it and I could never leave it.
I don't always find answers when I walk, but I do get a sense that life goes on, regardless. The woodland, the valleys, the waterfalls, the wildlife - it'll all still be there, even when I'm long gone.

Fresh air is not true, it is so polluted no matter where you are really.

But getting away from a houseful of people can be so worth it, just time for yourself! Great thinking time therapy.

Ooooo I love a good walk alone. Admittedly I live somewhere rural and beautiful, and walk with a dog (don’t know why, but I feel a bit weird and purposeless when I walk without him?)

To me, clearing my head means that I get a chance to let the quieter thoughts that get drowned out by everyday life time to run free. I don’t force them, just let them run. Day dream if you will. Sometimes I just listen to the birds and wind in the trees, or even rain falling.

I do think you need the right gear for the weather and terrain though. Nothing worse than walking with jeans falling down / socks slipping / seams chaffing etc.

Cross posted with JockTamsonsBairns, but 100% agree with this...

I do get a sense that life goes on, regardless. The woodland, the valleys, the waterfalls, the wildlife - it'll all still be there, even when I'm long gone

Fresh air is not true, it is so polluted no matter where you are really.

I don't believe that at all.
Many city centres have polluted air, but not everywhere is "so polluted".

I live is rural Scotland, surrounded by miles of woodland and countryside- are you suggeting that the air here is the same quality as a busy city road?

I'm feeling overwhelmed I need to be alone to think and work out my feelings

No cars at all, no tractors, no wood burning stoves, no emissions at all etc,

Everywhere is polluted, But to be fair some less than others.

I can disappear into my thoughts when walking and it's relaxing. I don't tend to think of anything particularly profound. I just listen to music and daydream but it's nice to not have to talk to people. If I did have a pressing decision to make I might think about that but usually just rubbish.

OP , eye contact and caring what others might think are easily solved with a pair of sunglasses (no matter the weather) and a headset playing something you can lose yourself in.

I’m a person who loves peace and quiet, love my own company. So I think I will be taking myself off for a walk tomorrow, I’m feeling the need to break away. Just for half an hour or so.

Means exactly what it says to me. If something's on my mind it gives me time to process it. Often I run at lunchtime at work for the same reason - it lets me think things over.

There a certain rhythm you go into when you walk/run/swim. It changes your breathing pattern and with that you fall into a rhythm. It forces you to watch your breathing. I believe this is a meditation technique.

Sometimes the walls feel closer in than they are. The outside is great for getting rid of that feeling.

It's nice to not have to talk to people sometimes.

Doesn't 'clear my head' either....I think my brain is broken....I get stuck in stupid thoughts that are pointless....some people say they walk and do some deep thinking....I just get obsessed with putting the teletubbies in the order of favourite to least favourite or some other such ridiculous scenario....or start to need a wee halfway round the walk and can't think about anything else! I also have these ridiculous thoughts if I'm in bed unable to sleep, or having a massage or something!

I enjoy walking. I wish I could go for a long, brisk walk every day. With music if possible.

My mind is usually at full speed worrying or planning or making a mental 'to do' list.... but when I'm walking somehow that doesn't happen- I tend to day dream instead.

It gives you a chance to think without being interrupted by family, or jobs to be done in the house.
You can clarify and think things through and work out a resolution. Similarly, when people say they will sleep on it.

I'm an introvert and a walk with just my own company recharges my batteries, relaxes me, calms me down and puts me in a place where I can deal with anything.

To me it means I want to get away from the people I'm with, take time out.

A lot of people also feel reinvigorated by time out in nature.

I like a stomp anywhere with headphones on, get a bit of air, change of scene, blood pumping etc it's good for you. I'm not an outdoors person by nature.

In my life it's mainly been men who are able to just say oh I'm off for a walk when family life gets a bit much.

I thought this thread was going to be about an OH/ is he texting etc!