As a writer who grew up with obsessive-compulsive disorder, I have a tendency to fall into maladaptive daydreams far more often than I\u2019d like to admit. But the older I get, the more I\u2019ve been able to control these daydreams and use them to my advantage. For example, I\u2019ll channel my creativity when writing scenes in my novel or create motivating scenarios for when I\u2019m walking outside. In fact, I have an entire playlist dedicated to my \u201cmain character walks,\u201d which doubles as both a workout and a confidence-boosting exercise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Essentially, I use my walks as a time to pretend I\u2019m, well, the main character in the story of my life. I mean, why not? We all should treat ourselves as such (with respect to and consideration for others, of course). But little did I realize that main character walks were actually quite common, so much so that they\u2019ve become a trend on TikTok\u2014and for good reason. Here are three incredible benefits of a main character walk.<\/p>\n
1. You Get Your Steps In<\/p>\n
According to Harvard Health<\/a>, \u201cEvidence suggests that 7500 steps is a good daily goal to reduce the risk of an early death.\u201d Walking is a great way to move your body and can even be an effective form of cardio.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWalking is an ideal option in terms of physical activity. It requires no specialized skill\u2014everyone knows how to walk,\u201d Dr. Cedric Bryant<\/a>, president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise<\/a>, told <\/a>TODAY.com<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s low impact and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Couple that with your \u201cmain character\u201d energy, and you\u2019ll be stepping into your power (quite literally) in no time.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2. Boosts Your Confidence<\/p>\n Main character walks can help you gain confidence, so long as you\u2019re not using them solely for external validation. In other words, don\u2019t pay attention to who\u2019s watching you strut on the treadmill. Rather, focus on centering the exercise around yourself without expecting perfection or attempting to mold how others view you.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cResearch consistently shows that people who view themselves as active agents in their story demonstrate better mental health outcomes and stronger resilience,\u201d says Duygu Balan, LPCC, in a Psychology Today article<\/a> on the topic. \u201cBeing the main character isn\u2019t about being perfect. It\u2019s about embracing the full arc and showing up in the scenes that are slow, messy, and unfiltered. Because the best characters are the flawed ones. They stumble. They get back up. And they keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n While the above commentary is about the idea of \u201cmain character energy\u201d as a whole, it can also be applied to your main character walk. If you stumble, grow tired, or have to slow down, don\u2019t be hard on yourself. You\u2019re not seeking perfection here. Walk\u2014quite literally!\u2014with purpose toward your goals, using the exercise to empower you. <\/p>\n 3. Reduces Screen Time<\/p>\n When embarking on a main character walk, you likely aren\u2019t staring down at your phone or watching TikTok videos. Instead, your shoulders are back, your chin is tilted up, and your eyes are locked ahead. And while you might be listening to your main character walk Spotify playlist, you\u2019re not distracting yourself with social media content. This is a major benefit of this exercise.<\/p>\n