What’s your walking personality?
I’m 99% sure this topic is a bit behind the trends, but sometimes you gotta be fashionably late, right?
I feel the need to preface this by saying that your personality can change over time, as it should. But I also believe we each have a built-in “default setting” (call it God’s personal blueprint) that shapes how we tend to move through life.
That’s why you can’t just copy someone else’s walking (or exercise) routine and expect it to work for you.
You can’t live someone else’s way and have it work for you because it’s not your way.
So, to help you find your own stride, I put together some common walking personalities.
**Last chance!
By the way, The Summer Walking Club kicks off in a week. Have you registered?
I ended up taking the holiday weekend to focus on time with family, and I hope you were able to as well! With that, I’ve pushed the deadline for the giveaway to midnight tonight. Today is the last day to sign up for a chance to win a weighted walking vest! Register by midnight to enter.
Whether you’re in or out, uncovering your walking personality (or any exercise style) is key. If you’re thinking you’re going to sit this club out because you “can’t commit,” let me ask: Is it really a time issue (spoiler: myth busted), or have you just not found your way to make movement a priority?
I get it. We all have those moments when moving falls to the bottom of the list. But biologically speaking, long-term ignoring movement only leads to less energy, less action, and worse health, productivity, and happiness.
Your life literally depends on how you move.
So, to encourage more movement, here’s a peek at some walking personalities. Knowing yours might just help you rethink your “why” and find your “way.”
What walking personality are you?
The Trailblazer:
You’re a high-energy go-getter who walks with purpose. Goals, progress, and results light you up.
Your energy: You have quick bursts of energy, which means you operate based on high-energy moments followed by a need for rest. Walking is best when done in alignment with this natural rhythm.
What you love: Setting goals, tracking progress, seeing tangible results. A fitness tracker or step challenge is your best friend.
Watch out for: Burnout from doing too much, too fast, too often. You might also get frustrated if you can’t keep up your pace every day. Remember, all of us need rest. Plan walks, but don’t neglect rest.
When to schedule: Find your high-energy windows during the day and plan movement here. Add interval walks—fast bursts mixed with slow recovery steps—to satisfy your need for intensity without overdoing it.
The Energizer:
Walking recharges you. It’s your steady rhythm, a way to sync your mind and body.
Your energy: Your energy is consistent and sustainable, which means there is generally not a right or wrong time to walk. The important part is that you need to walk to keep your energy in check.
What you love: You find deep satisfaction when you finish a walk or exercise routine. But more than a checklist, movement is a way to spark creativity. As you walk, allow your mind to wander into these creative places.
Watch out for: Walking out of obligation rather than desire can steal your joy and lead to burnout. You hate monotony, so mix up your routes or walking times to keep it fresh and exciting.
Tip: Turn your walks into a mini-ritual. Try walking with a friend, listening to an audiobook, or even turning your route into a mindful practice can help keep you motivated.
The Multitasker:
You’re always on the move—literally. Walking is your chance to multitask, brainstorm, or soak in new ideas.
Your energy: You tend to have high energy that is highly adaptive and flexible, which means you’re always ready for the next thing. You thrive on variety and surprise.
What you love: Let walking be an adventure. Keep it spontaneous, add lots of variety, and find new trails. You’ll also find excitement by mixing movement and multitasking, making the most of every minute and every ounce of energy.
Watch out for: You are the type to easily get lost in other activities of life or work that you neglect movement altogether (even though you’re not lacking energy). Know your pattern and plan time to walk. Don’t overcommit at the expense of neglecting movement.
When to schedule: Schedule walks into your day so you don’t risk skipping them. Try walking first thing in the morning to kickstart your day.
The Mindful Mover:
For you, walking is a practice, not a race. It’s slow, thoughtful, and healing.
Your energy: Your energy may feel lower than others, but if you observe, it’s more methodical. You are generally good about conserving energy, using it for what you choose, not wasting it. However, because of this, it can appear as if you don’t have enough energy to move your body. You can conserve it to the point you don’t move at all. Instead, shift your focus to see how walking generates energy.
What you love: Don’t let walking become a chore or a checklist. You will not do well here. Instead, view walking as a time for solitude, a form of rest. View it as a time to recharge your batteries and find clarity, releasing what is causing you to feel heavy.
Watch out for: Be careful not to overexert yourself. At the same time, don’t skip walking because you feel “too tired.” Show yourselves how a gentle walk can help recharge you more than rest alone.
Tip: Be careful not to get caught up in how other people move. Comparing yourself to a high-energy person doesn’t help. Instead, view walking as a form of healing rather than exercise.
The Flexible Wanderer
You go with the flow—literally. Your walking style changes with the seasons, as does your energy and social needs.
Your energy: Your energy is constantly changing. The best way to understand it is based on the seasons. Sometimes you are mellow and slow, and other times you are energized and social. Pay attention to your energy and work with it instead of fighting against it.
What you love: You love the freedom to do what you feel, which offers both the flexibility to break up with a set plan and the variety to find a new path. You like new and different, so use this to find new routes to walk.
Watch out for: You may fully convince yourself not to go walking, not because you don’t want to, but because you have trouble deciding where and when to walk. To prevent this, try scheduling it into your life, but keep that plan flexible. You want options, just not too many.
Schedule it: Create a simple plan for the week (not the month). You love knowing what is going on to prevent decision fatigue, but don’t plan so far that you lose the spontaneity and flexibility you thrive on. Don’t just plan for walks. Plan to mix them up. Choose some slow routes and other adventurous ones. Allow yourself the security of knowing when you’ll walk, but the freedom to choose where.
Did any of those resonate with you?
Leave a comment below with what landed the most.
I hope you will stop expecting yourself to fit someone else’s mold. Instead, honor your way and let movement become a natural, life-giving rhythm.
Remember, movement matters. Your life literally depends on it.
So, uncover your walking personality, and if you’re ready to commit to yourself, join The Summer Walking Club. Register by midnight for your chance to win a weighted vest!
Let’s get moving this summer, of course, in your own way!
Sometime I feel like the wanderer and sometimes energizer
Definitely fitting into the Mindful Mover 🐌