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National Walk Around Things Day

Most days, you’re forced to face your problems. Stressful.

Marketing angleinferred

Position your brand as a stress-relief partner by encouraging customers to take a mental break and embrace avoidance of daily pressures on Walk Around Things Day.

Relevance 28low intent

'Permission to procrastinate': celebrate the day with guilt-free relaxation tips
Mental health angle: how strategic avoidance supports wellbeing and work-life balance
Partner with wellness/meditation apps to promote mindful breaks on April's quirky observance

History

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.

FAQ

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]