Some days you just don’t want to deal with certain situations, whether it’s that ladder in your way, or the co-worker who always seems to come to you with their problems. This day gives you the perfect answer to these situations, and a valid excuse to do so! This is ‘Walk around Things Day!’ and the numerous ways that statement can be interpreted gives you a lot of leeway in your celebration!
Learn about National Walk Around Things Day
National Walk Around Things Day has been created to give you a day whereby you can walk around your problems rather than deal with them head-on. Yes, we are often told that if we have any issues we should deal with them and confront them.
However, there are times when we would rather simply neglect the issue and enjoy the peace instead. On this day, you are encouraged to embrace this reaction, rather than feeling like you need to get into an argument or some sort of confrontation. After all, we all deserve a bit of peace from time-to-time, don’t we?
Of course, there are people that observe National Walk Around Things Day in the literal sense. This means that they literally walk around anything that is in their way. There are also those that use this day as an exercise to get outside and get some exercise. You could decide to walk around your local park, rather than cut through it, for example. As is the case with a lot of these days, we all have the freedom to interpret them and celebrate them in any way that we see fit.
National Walk Around Things Day Timeline
William James Describes Habitual Avoidance
Psychologist William James writes about how people form habits of avoiding unpleasant tasks, helping lay early groundwork for understanding “walking around” problems instead of confronting them directly. [1]
Walking Promoted as a Health-Building Exercise
Public health campaigns in the United States begin promoting walking as a simple, everyday exercise to improve cardiovascular health, turning ordinary walking around town into a deliberate wellness practice.
Lazarus Formalizes Coping and Avoidance
Psychologist Richard Lazarus publishes work on stress and coping that distinguishes problem‑focused and emotion‑focused strategies, framing avoidance as one way people “work around” stressful situations.
Avoidance Coping Becomes a Defined Research Topic
Health psychologists begin systematically studying “avoidance coping,” showing that sometimes people reduce stress by distracting themselves or temporarily steering around difficult issues rather than tackling them head‑on.
Surgeon General Highlights Walking for Everyday Fitness
The U.S. Surgeon General and public health agencies increasingly emphasize brisk walking as a practical way for busy people to fit exercise into daily life, popularizing ideas like walking around the block or office for health.
Guidelines Endorse Walking Around the Neighborhood
Updated U.S. physical activity guidelines promote short bouts of moderate activity like walking around neighborhoods, workplaces, and parks as effective ways to reduce disease risk and manage stress.
APA Summarizes Research on Avoidance and Well‑ Being
The American Psychological Association reports that while chronic avoidance can be harmful, brief mental breaks and healthy distraction can help people manage multiple responsibilities, echoing the idea of selectively “walking around” some problems.
History of National Walk Around Things Day
Well, the history of walking around things – both in a physical and metaphorical sense – is something that has been around for the length of time. However, there have been people throughout history who have different perspectives on whether we should work around things and if this is ever good for our problems.
We’re often told that we should stop avoiding issues and deal with the hard stuff. Nevertheless, we’re sure most of you would agree that we all deserve a break as well and that sometimes the best thing to do is simply forget your problems.
Avoidance in terms of taking a mental break is so crucial to managing multiple responsibilities as long as it doesn’t cross over into wishful thinking.
This quote is from Bonnie Hayden Cheng, who carried out research into the management of multiple responsibilities in a busy world and why avoiding problems can be a good thing. In their study, Bonnie and Associate Professor Julie McCarthy sampled a number of university students who were juggling school, family, and work responsibilities.
They focused on two distinctive avoidance strategies. One was hoping issues would simply disappear. The other was doing activities to take the mind off problems, which turned out to be the better approach.
Therefore, if you have a number of things that are troubling you at the moment, you may decide that the best thing to do on this date is to throw yourself into other activities that are going to take your mind off any issues that could get you down.
After all, there is no point in honoring National Walk Around Things Day by simply sitting and worrying about things, is there? We know that this is easier said than done, which is why taking your mind off things can always help.
How to celebrate National Walk Around Things Day
There are so many options, from the light-hearted method of simply ‘walking around things’, where you may circle a Fire Hydrant a couple of times for fun on the walk to work, to the more exercise-conscious method of ‘walking around the park’ you usually walk through as a shortcut to and from your favorite coffee stand.
There are many days and affirmations that are about meeting your challenges head-on, and those are powerful and valid tactics. This day reminds us that sometimes you have to pick your battles, and sometimes the best way to deal with a situation is by simply not dealing with it at all. You must be careful what you choose to walk around though, what you may be walking around isn’t the problem, but the path of wisdom!
Let’s start with walking around things in the literal sense, as you go about your day, rather than walking past things like poles, office chairs, cubicles, light poles, or stop signs, instead make sure you complete one full circle around each one you pass.
You may find yourself having a lot longer walk to wherever you’re going, but the health benefits you’ll get, and the fun you’ll get laughing at the strange looks others give you, will more than make up for it! No one needs to know why you’re doing it, or you can let them in on the secret and spread the special magic of this day.
You can also arrange exercise events for this day. Approach your manager the day before ‘National Walk Around Things Day’, and see if they’d like to help you organize a walk around the building day for health.
At some point in the day, you can arrange for groups, or the entire office, to take a walk around the block where your office is located. Getting up and moving helps everyone feel better, and there’s nothing to get the energy back up after lunch then getting out and getting a little fresh air and exercise!
Then there’s the ‘Walk around Things’ part of the day that makes one think about the challenges one chooses. Walking around things doesn’t have to be literal, you can choose to walk around a problem by choosing not to have a particular argument with someone.
You may identify that all they really want is for you to agree with them, and the conversation will be over right then. You may then proceed to continue with your day as planned, having ‘walked around’ that problem.
No matter how you choose to celebrate it, National Walk Around Things Day is a great opportunity to try new ways of thinking and looking at the world. It’s a great way to change things up from your normal routine by simply walking around things that you normally just pass right by.
Who knows what you’ll discover just around the block from your normal pathway to work, or what new solutions to problems will present themselves to you when you simply choose to walk around them? Take this wonderful concept and the lessons it teaches you forth into the world, and give them a good walking around!
The Surprising Benefits of “Walking Around” Problems
Sometimes taking the long way around can be more helpful than pushing straight through.
The facts below explore how stepping away from a problem, taking short walks, or choosing a slightly longer route can support emotional balance, heart health, and better overall well-being.
These insights show that even small moments of movement can make a meaningful difference in both mental and physical health.
Coping by “Walking Around” Problems Can Be Healthy in the Short Term
Psychologists distinguish between avoidance that is pure wishful thinking and “temporary disengagement,” where people step back from a stressor to recover their emotional resources.
Research on university students juggling work, school, and family found that distracting themselves with other meaningful activities, rather than ruminating or hoping problems would vanish, was linked to better emotional regulation and less burnout, as long as they later reengaged with their responsibilities.
Short, Frequent Walks Protect Heart Health
Cardiology research shows that even brief bouts of walking spread throughout the day can lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce cardiovascular risk.
The Texas Heart Institute notes that adults who accumulate around 150 minutes of moderate walking per week, including broken-up walks such as taking longer routes or extra loops, see significant improvements in heart health and overall fitness compared with more sedentary peers.
Taking the Long Way Around Can Help Weight and Blood Sugar Control
Small decisions to walk a bit farther, like circling a building instead of cutting through it, can meaningfully increase daily energy expenditure.
Public health guidance based on large cohort studies shows that regular, moderate-paced walking helps maintain a healthy weight and improves insulin sensitivity, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome even when people do not engage in more intense exercise.
Walking Breaks Sharpen Thinking and Boost Creativity
Studies at Stanford University found that people produced significantly more creative ideas while walking than while sitting, whether they walked indoors on a treadmill or outdoors.
The act of walking, even at an easy pace, appears to free up cognitive resources, improve mood, and support more flexible thinking, which can make it easier to “walk around” mental roadblocks and see alternative solutions to problems.
Strategic Avoidance Is a Recognized Conflict-Management Style
In conflict management research, “avoidance” is not always a sign of weakness but one of several strategic styles.
Experts in organizational behavior note that temporarily stepping away from a disagreement can be useful when emotions are running high, the issue is trivial, or more information is needed.
Used selectively, walking away or around a confrontation can preserve relationships and prevent minor issues from escalating.
Detours During the Workday Counteract Sedentary Office Life
Modern office workers often sit for more than eight hours a day, which is associated with higher risks of heart disease and early mortality. Occupational health guidance recommends inserting short walking “detours,” such as taking stairs, walking around the floor, or circling the block, to break up long sitting periods; these micro-bouts of movement can improve glucose control and blood pressure even if total daily exercise time does not change much.
Ignoring Minor Irritations Can Protect Mental Health
Clinical psychologists have long emphasized “picking your battles” as a coping skill.
Research on emotion regulation shows that choosing not to engage with minor annoyances, such as petty arguments or small daily hassles, can reduce stress and conserve self-control for more serious challenges.
This selective inattention aligns with cognitive-behavioral strategies that encourage people to focus on controllable, high-impact problems rather than every irritation they encounter.
National Walk Around Things Day FAQs
Is avoiding problems ever a healthy coping strategy?
Psychologists distinguish between escapist avoidance and intentional detachment.
Research on “disengagement coping” suggests that temporarily stepping back from a stressor to rest, reflect, or focus on other tasks can reduce emotional exhaustion and protect performance, as long as people still return to address important issues later.
In contrast, chronic avoidance, where someone consistently refuses to confront solvable problems, is linked to higher stress, anxiety, and poorer health over time. [1]
How can someone tell the difference between taking a mental break and unhealthy procrastination?
Experts often recommend looking at both timing and intent. A break is usually planned, time-limited, and leaves a person better able to tackle the issue afterward.
Procrastination typically involves delaying tasks despite expecting negative consequences, feeling guilt or shame while avoiding, and not having a clear plan to return to the problem.
When avoidance keeps interfering with work, relationships, or health, psychologists advise seeking help and learning more active coping strategies.
Is walking really beneficial if someone only adds a few extra minutes a day?
Even short bouts of walking add up. Large epidemiological studies show that adults who accumulate about 150 minutes per week of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, have a substantially lower risk of heart disease and early death, and people who walk less still see some benefit compared with being inactive.
Research also finds that breaking up sitting time with light walking for just a few minutes every half hour can help improve blood sugar and reduce some of the harms of prolonged sitting.
What are “microbreaks,” and how do they affect focus at work or school?
Microbreaks are very short, informal breaks that might last from a few seconds to a few minutes, such as standing up, stretching, or taking a quick walk away from the desk.
A meta-analysis of workplace studies found that brief breaks can reduce fatigue and improve vigor without harming performance, especially for tasks that require sustained attention.
Light movement during these breaks, like walking to a window or around a hallway, appears to be more restorative than staying seated and scrolling on a phone. [1]
When is it wise to “pick your battles” instead of confronting conflict directly?
Conflict-resolution research suggests that avoiding a dispute can be constructive when the issue is trivial, emotions are running too high for a productive conversation, or the relationship matters more than winning a particular point.
In these cases, temporarily stepping back or letting a minor issue go may protect both sides from escalation. However, avoidance is risky when safety, ethics, or major decisions are involved, since unaddressed conflicts about important topics tend to resurface and can damage trust over time.
Do people walk differently around obstacles in crowded places compared to open spaces?
Studies of pedestrian movement show that people unconsciously adjust speed, direction, and following distance based on crowd density and obstacles.
In open spaces, walkers tend to choose smooth, efficient paths with gentle curves.
In crowded sidewalks or narrow corridors, they adopt more complex avoidance strategies, such as forming informal lanes, anticipating others’ trajectories, and taking slight detours to maintain personal space.
These patterns are so consistent that urban planners and safety engineers use them to design sidewalks, transit stations, and evacuation routes.
Can deliberately changing a walking route really influence creativity or problem-solving?
There is some evidence that both physical movement and exposure to new surroundings can support creative thinking.
Experimental studies have found that people often generate more original ideas while walking compared with sitting, and that walking outdoors sometimes provides an extra boost compared with walking on a treadmill, possibly because varied scenery offers more subtle cues and mental stimulation.
While walking is not a cure-all, many creativity researchers recommend gentle movement and a change of environment when someone feels mentally stuck. [1]
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