Put it aside, turn it around – the new “smartphone” running trend is being considered

Doctors clearly state that pooping while walking after a meal can help improve long-term health. But now there’s a new trend in town: going phone-smart.

later Women’s health CERN reporter Madani conducted a week-long experiment where he walked outside without a phone for an hour, a trend that began to gain popularity. He didn’t check his phone before he started walking and left it at home, focusing on his surroundings and disconnecting from the ever-present technology in his life.

A day later, he started picking colors while walking. Another TikTok trend that encourages presence is choosing a color to focus on while running and seeing as many items of the same color as possible.

At the end of her experience, Madani reported four main things: feeling more present, more productive, less moody, and having a more restful morning.

Walking has long been recognized for mental health and general health. The Mayo Clinic notes that daily walking can help prevent or manage heart disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and help improve cognition, mood, and memory, among other benefits.

Phone-mind running is similar to the tic-tac “silent run” trend, which became popular in 2023 and encouraged walking without listening to music or podcasts.

Experts have long pointed out the benefits of going outside, but they also point to the importance of ditching technology.

“The idea of ​​taking a quiet walk in nature is very reminiscent of an exercise in the mindfulness meditation tradition of mindful walking or walking meditation,” Rael Kahn, PhD, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, told Health.com.

Khan noted that technology can be “more powerful” than walking.

Studies have shown that using the phone and technology before going to sleep and after waking up causes anxiety and depression. Leaving phones at home while walking with nature gives people a chance to de-stress and focus on their surroundings instead of their notifications.

“By moving the body, there’s an engagement with the body, a natural engagement with the senses that the movement itself encourages, even if you haven’t learned anything about meditation or mindfulness,” says Kahn.

While it may seem impossible to give up technology at first, it gets easier and the benefits are worth it.

“The richness of the experience and the vibrancy of the senses is never boring when you’re really present,” Kahn said.