The 6-6-6 walking challenge: forget about 10,000 steps a day
OK, now tell me honestly: do you really reach those 10,000 steps a day? No, same, me neither. I have quite the time to go for a walk now and then, but to actually find the motivation to do it is hard for me (and probably for you too). Only now there is a trend on TikTok that not only helps you get enough exercise, but also helps you do something useful with your day and not get stuck on the sofa with a bag of chips. Now you must be wondering what I'm talking about. Well, it's called the 6-6-6 walking challenge and this is it:
This is what that 6-6-6 walking challenge entails
OK: Six days a week you go for an hour's walk. Chop that hour into three parts: the first six minutes you do a warm-up, then a brisk walk and the last six minutes you do a cool-down. You do it either at six in the morning or at six in the evening. And that's it. No dozens of instructional videos, no complicated paces. Just run, simple right?
What I find so chill about it is that it takes the pressure off that ten-thousand-step norm. That norm we all feel a bit guilty about, because who achieves that every day, especially if you have an office job where your biggest move of the day is reaching for your second coffee? TikTok now says: it doesn't have to be at all. An hour's walk is also good for your body and your head. And honestly, that already sounds a lot more achievable than that eternal ticking of your pedometer.
Why the 6-6-6 challenge works so well
Well, walking is perhaps the most low-effort, high-reward thing there is - so it makes sense that this is going so mega viral. Plus: it's a time when you get to be offline for a while (or yes, half offline then, because my favourite podcast is on during such a long walk anyway. These are the Amayzine recommendations in terms of podcasts).
OK, a little more seriously. On average, you take about 6,000 to 7,000 steps during such a 6-6-6 walk. And research shows that people who take at least 7,000 steps daily have a much lower risk of premature death. Those times, six o'clock in the morning or six o'clock in the evening, also do have a logic. Walking after your meal (in the evening) helps regulate your blood sugar and is good for your heart and digestion. Walking at six in the morning helps stabilise your blood sugar, gives you energy for the day, and provides a calm, positive start in the fresh morning air. That doesn't mean you necessarily have to do it at those times, but it helps as a regular routine.
Not just physically, also mentally
What especially won me over is that walking really does something to your mind. That hour outside, when nobody wants anything from you and when you don't respond to all your messages. It is a moment of rest, where you leave everything behind for a while. No emails, no phone calls, no obligations for a while - just you and the world around you. And this is actually exactly why this challenge is so popular: it gives people an excuse to give themselves a moment. The idea is that you build a structure you can stick to, something you don't feel guilty about because it's simple and manageable. And you might discover after just one week that you're sleeping better, your head is just a little less full or you've finally finished that one podcast you've had on pause for weeks.
How to start
If you don't feel like starting (I get it), keep it simple. You don't have to walk six days a week right away. Try going out the door three times for a week. It doesn't have to be long, as long as it's consistent. And if you like it, build up to four or five times a week. It's not about being perfect right away, but taking a step in the right direction every time. And if you find it boring, switch walking routes, or take a friend with you, or your mum, or your ex - but only if you take a really long route, hahaha.
What I want to say most of all: of all the TikTok hype, this is perhaps the most approachable. It's not a challenge that punishes your body, not a workout you give up after two weeks. It's just... walking. And sometimes that's exactly what you need: a moment to clear your head, organise your thoughts. So why not give it a try? Who knows, maybe this is the perfect way to regain your balance. Please, try it out.
