Most people I work with are either recovering from burnout or very close to collapsing. Many of them have or had a regular intense exercise routine: preparing for a marathon, extreme mountain climbing, trekking in the desert. Or personal challenges where you follow a strict routine and time yourself swimming or walking everyday in order to beat your personal best.

Moving is good for us and those extreme challenges can have their place at certain moments of our life but absolutely not when about to collapse or struggling to recover from burnout. If you want to know more about managing physical activity when at risk or burnout or going back to sports after it, do not miss my podcast episode n°18 Exercising and Burnout, coming out on March 1st.

Today, I would like to suggest another type of challenge, a reverse one if you like.  If you love challenging yourself, it may be time to look at it from the other end: discovering slowness, presence, mindful activity.

The idea is to go for a walk, whether in a parc, the countryside, mountain or beach, depending on where you are and can find a lovely environment. This walk is not to establish your personal best, you are walking at a leisurely pace, not hiking.  No timing yourself, no connected watch or counting steps. Go with what feels nice and possible depending on your energy level. Afraid of being bored?  Super busy brain?  Focus on your senses.  The challenge here is to come back from your walk having noticed things:

Observe something you like, admire it, colours, light…

Truly listen to a particular noise.

Become aware of a smell, a scent.

Touch a tree, a leaf, grass, whatever your like or feel the ground under your feet.

And breathe deeply.

What is essential here is to feel, to take pleasure, to be present and notice.  You are using your senses, feeling alive in your body, truly noticing your environment. And what about writing down your sensations when back home and describing your walk to someone?  Do this regularly and see how noticing your sensations evolve. Enjoy!