Reviving Tradition: The Necessity of the Daily Family Walk
History of the Family Walk
Before the advent of motor vehicles and a landscape dominated by strip malls and fast-food chains, walking as a daily activity was far more common in past generations.
From ancient Greeks to Egyptians, walking was a daily activity. Families would walk together to markets, temples, as part of daily chores, or just for leisure. In Europe, during the 18th and 19th centuries, taking a promenade (a leisurely walk) became a popular pastime. Families and suitors would walk together in public parks and gardens as a social event and for health.
At the time of the country’s founding and through much of the 19th century, the U.S. was predominantly agricultural, with most of the population living in rural areas. Most families were farming or living on homesteads, which naturally involved a lot of walking. Towards the end of the 19th century, the automobile was not yet widely adopted, and rural roads mostly used for horse and buggy were still safe and pleasant to walk along.
During the Industrial Revolution, families left rural areas and farms to seek factory employment or a different way of life. As cities became more crowded and polluted, there was a movement toward valuing the countryside. With the rise of Suburbia in the 20th century, especially after World War II, the idea of a family stroll after dinner was quite common. However, simultaneously, the automobile industry was booming, and suburbs were separated from commercial and employment centers, making walking less feasible for many tasks.
Why Less Families Are Walking Together
Today, the family walk is less common due to a shift in priorities, excessive traffic in most areas, and the ever-increasing distractions of our modern life. Everyone seems to be in a rush, going from one task to the next. Parents are juggling their obligations while attempting to keep their kids enrolled in every after-school activity known to man. Outside work and other activities, dinner is takeout food, and the time between everything is filled with work, email, social media, and television.
The most depressing and distracted family picture I could find. They look like they could use a walk.
Priorities- Everything done today is for looks. How we appear on social media or constantly comparing ourselves to others and how we might be viewed. It looks “good” to be involved in all these things: the overachiever at work, staying late and putting in overtime to get that promotion, going to work events after being at work all day, and being involved in extracurricular groups. For our kids, we try to be the “super parent” by involving them in all the sports and after-school programs, running from one activity to the next, while running out of time to spend with one another. We worry about posting and sharing how great we are as parents while feeling run down and burnt out.
Excessive Traffic – Frankly, it’s a lot less desirable for many people to step outside their front doors and take a walk. Many suburbs have become cramped, providing the feeling of living in a fishbowl. They’re positioned directly off a major road with no sidewalks, or if they do have sidewalks, most people try to avoid the cars speeding past their family at 60MPH. Rural roads that used to be for local traffic have become thoroughfares for subdivisions that pop up randomly, scattered throughout land previously used for farming.
Modern Distractions – The most significant reason families walk less is the constant consumption of digital content from social media, television, and video games. Free time and “winding down” is spent using these distractions and overstimulating our brains, doing quite the opposite of allowing us to relax. They also create the illusion through hours of staring at a screen that we have less time or that time is going by faster. When we artificially have less time, things like a family walk take a back seat to our many self-imposed obligations.
Why Are We Talking About Family Walks?
To achieve our goal of making America strong and resilient, first, American families must be strong and resilient. American families can grow stronger through purposeful time together and bonding on a family walk. While we can’t immediately change where we live or how much traffic we’re around, we can control putting our devices down and making our family walk a daily priority.
Young Vader riding his bike during a family walk. His transition to the dark side happened soon after his parents became too busy to take family walks.
It’s too easy to keep working, checking email, responding to messages, and achieving until we go to bed. If we have kids, that adds another set of obligations we need to prioritize and sort through.
It's precisely when I feel like I don’t have time to go for a walk that I know I have to. Deciding to take that evening stroll after dinner has more benefits than you’ve probably considered.
Physical health – Regular walking boosts cardiovascular health, stimulates our lymphatic system, strengthens muscles, and is one of the best exercises to reduce inflammation (1).
Mental Health – Evening walks can be calming and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. They are also a great way to leave behind the day's stress (2).
Improves Digestion – Walking after dinner can improve digestion by stimulating the stomach and intestines. This can help food move through the digestive system more efficiently (3).
Sleep Quality – The light entering our eyes from the warm hues of the setting sun tells our body to produce melatonin, getting us ready for sleep. It's best to leave the sunglasses behind so your retina can register the decreased blue light and increased orange and red hues (4).
Bonding Time – Walking provides a distraction-free environment for families to connect, share stories, discuss ideas, and talk about their days.
Conclusion
The family walk isn't just about checking another task off the list. It's a chance to get outdoors, breathe fresh air, and spend quality time with loved ones, regardless of the setting. Even if you're just circling a building, the key is to be present and enjoy the walk for what it is. And if you're walking alone, it's still an opportunity for some healthy exercise and perhaps a chance encounter.
A random family that I’ve never met on a leisurely stroll. They get extra points for being barefoot.
There's no set duration for your evening walks; the key is consistency in building the habit. Let the weather guide you. On less pleasant days, you might walk for 15-20 minutes, while on exceptionally nice days, you could walk for 45 to 90 minutes. The duration isn't the focus; what's important is prioritizing the walk and being present during it.
If you find yourself constantly short on time, perhaps it's a moment to reassess your priorities. The message is simple: step outside, take a walk and savor the present moment.
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