Steps for Connection

Allie Gabriel

When you’re busy on the job and walking to and from meetings, it is natural to become used to your surroundings. It is easy to forget the beauty of an art installation, or the nature around you. During this year’s Mental Health Action Week organized by the Center for Working Well’s Working Well Council in partnership with the Mitch Daniels School of Business, we hosted walking breaks for students, faculty and staff to connect and remind ourselves of the beauty our campus offers.

We gathered at the Purdue Arch and began a tour of the hidden gems on campus, including The Spirit of the Land Grant College mural, the unfinished P, John Purdue’s memorial, the Purdue Hello Walk, a sound engineered clapping circle and more. Walkers socialized with one another, reminisced about how much campus had changed since they joined Purdue and learned about campus history they walk past every day. These walks gave us a gentle reminder of the peace our surroundings bring and what we may take for granted.

Have you considered how a walk can connect you to your community, or even ground you in nature? The beauty of a walk is that it requires very little equipment but offers massive returns. Here are four ways to bring this into practice:

• Take Your Meetings on a Walk: For one-on-one or small group meetings, consider going on a walk together. This change of scenery breaks down hierarchical barriers and often leads to more creative problem-solving than sitting across a desk.
• Curate a Hidden Gems Tour: Follow our lead! What are the hidden gems you might walk past every day? Map out 3 to 5 interesting landmarks and beautiful views near your office. Leading a group on a mini-exploration builds a shared sense of pride in your environment
• Weekly Walking Clubs: Consistency beats intensity. Establish a standing weekly time where anyone needing a break can join a group walk. It creates a reliable social anchor for people looking for gentle exercise and meaningful connection.
• Self-Guided Walk: Need some time on your own to refocus? If a group isn’t your speed, use walking as a mental reset. Swap 10 minutes of scrolling on your phone for a mindful stroll. By focusing on your surroundings rather than your notifications, you’ll return to your desk with much higher clarity and focus.

The next time you feel the weight of a busy workday, consider taking your break on a walk. These small shifts in pace can lead to big shifts in perspective.