Going out for a walk on your own can be a really relaxing and rejuvenating experience, giving you time to get in touch with nature and let your mind wander. But never forget the value of taking a walk with a close friend! This experience is no better or worse than walking alone - it's just different. Rather then getting lost in your own thoughts, you can strike up a conversation and get to know each other even better. Here are some of the reasons why I love the occasional walk with friends.

Plan it together

Planning a walk with friends is exciting, with all those spontaneous ideas being fired at each other like darts. Walks/trips can be planned for a specific date, or on a weekend perhaps. There are times when places are visited recurrently. I remember travelling to a national park in order to have a leisurely stroll with one of my many friends in December last year. Hatching a plan to walk around with friends is so much fun, perhaps because everything is so spontaneous.

Catching up

Catching-up for a drink, or just for a quick snack is certainly one of my favourite getaways during the weekend. Walks often act as a transient refuge from monotonous, everyday chores including work. It’s more of an attempt to de-stress and have a good time with those who matter.

Health benefits

The fact that having a walk enhances our health positively goes without saying. I like walking over long distances with a friend or two. It helps me to stay away from my laptop and smartphone; otherwise, I’d be left staring at my smartphone for hours and hours. Moreover, it keeps the body warm and helps me to shed a mountain of stress and everyday problems.

Have a cuppa

Nothing can beat a hot and hearty cup of tea or coffee after a long and enriching walk with friends.  I remember stopping at a tea stall after a long and tedious day of shopping and roaming around with friends to have a hearty cup of tea.

Chatting with banter

As an age-old saying goes “Friends add a lot of color to our lives”. Having a friend to talk to is a privilege not many can afford. Again, having a walk or a get-together with friends helps us to de-stress and, at the same time, allows us to step out of the virtual world of smartphones and iPads into the real world.

Exploration

To explore a new location is always a fantastic idea. Sometimes hatching a plan to visit a place that hasn’t been visited in a long time is also an unbelievable idea. What I like about exploring unexplored lands is the indomitable feeling of thrill and excitement that engulfs us when we travel to new destinations.

Repetition

I’m yet to end an outing and I’m already formulating plans for my next outing. Well, that is exactly what I like about walks and outings; they keep you right on your toes. Whenever a walk ends, I start hatching plans for our next adventure. This is exactly what keeps the cycle moving.