“Silent walking” is the newest viral trend captivating Gen Z.
Gen Z is no stranger to internet trends and fads.
Their suggestions have ranged from canceling skinny jeans to going wild over the “bed rotting” trend.
But now, there’s a new craze sweeping through Zoomers.
In a TikTok video, Mady Maio, co-host of the Okay Sis podcast, claims she “unintentionally started a movement” that she promises will “change your life.”
This trend, called “silent walking,” has sparked a lively discussion online.
Reactions to this new trend have been mixed on social media, with some users sharing their personal experiences with “silent walking.”
One user wrote, “I’ve been doing this daily for two months. And it’s GAME CHANGING.”
Another viewer shared, “I tried this! All my brain could focus on was the last TikTok I watched. I had the ‘white people taco night’ song stuck in my head for an hour.”
A third person adds, “I love silent walking!! It’s great for manifesting.”
One person commented, “Is this real? This is just walking… like how people did it before technology.”
Another person wrote, “Gen Z just discovered walking y’all,” accompanied by laughing emojis.
Someone else wrote, “So just going for a walk like we all did in the 90s???
So, what exactly is “silent walking,” you might wonder? Let us explain.
It’s essentially something everyone did before technology became a major part of our daily lives.
Essentially, it involves taking a walk without your phone, music, podcasts, or any other technological distractions.
In the video, which has garnered nearly 500,000 views, Maio says: “No AirPods, no podcasts, no music. Just me, myself, and I.”
“And at first, I was like, ‘No way, my anxiety could never’—which is probably what you’re thinking too—but something inside me said, ‘Let me just give it a try.’”
The podcaster explains that while the first two minutes of her walk were chaotic, she soon entered a “flow state” and found that she could “suddenly hear yourself.”
Maio tells her followers that “silent walking” has provided her with the “clarity” she had always been seeking.
She continues, “Look, the universe and your intuition come to you through whispers. If you’re never alone with your thoughts and never get quiet, you’re going to miss those whispers.”
“And those whispers are the most important to pay 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 too. I promise, just give it a try… Give yourself the gift of getting quiet and listening to those whispers.”
While Maio may have popularized “silent walking” as a viral trend, the term itself was reportedly coined by New York City influencer Arielle Lorre in January.
She too has discussed the benefits of silent walks, noting that she feels all her senses become instantly heightened.
Lorre explained, “I smell everything, I hear everything, I see everything, and it’s so grounding for me.”
Numerous studies have shown that spending excessive time online can significantly impact your mental well-being.
According to Science Daily, an over-reliance on your device can lead to lazy thinking and significantly reduce cognitive function.
According to James Cook University, “silent walking” could help enhance the mental processes we use to understand information and transform it into knowledge.
