HOW TO HOT GIRL WALK: BOSTON EDITION
Written for Introduction to Magazine Writing, October 2022
During the pandemic, there was quite a culture shift within the United States particularly. This shift focused on the importance of self care and overall health and started to turn away from damaging ideologies like hustle culture. Hustle culture, as Sofia Mendes, junior at Emerson College, puts it “hustle culture is similar to toxic productivity, it lies in the basis that we always need to be working, always monetizing something.”
As acts of mindfulness became more prevalent, the Hot Girl Walk was born. Created by Mia Lind, a college student at the time, on Tik Tok. Lind said she was bored at home and her Mom recommended that her and her sisters go for walks, and slowly it gained a lot of traction online. Not because people wanted to lose a few inches off their waist or because of their doctor’s orders, but because the Hot Girl Walk centered around getting outside, enjoying the fresh air, and working towards becoming the best version of yourself.
I want to preface this by saying that if you look online the Hot Girl Walk often comes with specific instructions for what qualifies as a Hot Girl Walk. Some will say you need to walk a certain amount of steps or achieve something quantitative. I want you to disregard all of this. The Hot Girl Walk is about healing yourself. Just going for any old walk is not the same as the Hot Girl Walk, and the difference is the mindset. There is no numerical value your walk will have that will achieve this healing, and that is the goal of the Hot Girl Walk.
What to Bring
A common misconception about the Hot Girl Walk is that you have to wear an expensive workout set or have a specific pair of shoes to fit the aesthetic. But, you can wear whatever you feel good walking longer distances in. Keep it comfortable—whatever that entails for you, works. Sophia Barlett, sophomore at Boston University, brings her lululemon belt bag because “it holds everything I need, it’s very convenient” and wears a pair of headphones. I recommend bringing a water bottle, phone and headphones.
As far as listening to music goes, I would choose whatever playlist you’re loving at the moment. Depending on how your life is at any given moment or whether or not mercury is in retrograde, you may even opt for a sad girl autumn playlist (always a win in my book). Mendes says her current favorite playlist to listen to while walking is her “Fall(ing apart)” playlist. I recommend music over an audiobook because Hot Girl Walking really focuses in on your mentality.
The Mindset
This is key. This is why we Hot Girl Walk. Clinically speaking, walking is proven to boost your mood because “it increases blood flow and blood circulation to the brain and body” which positively influences your central nervous system which is connected to stress levels (WebMD). Essentially saying, Hot Girl Walking will help decrease your stress levels and improve your mood and self esteem (the Hot Girl part of Hot Girl Walking). Bartlett says Hot Girl Walks are a part of her self care routine, she utilizes them “as a way of clearing my mind and getting some fresh air.” Bartlett also said she usually comes back feeling “refreshed and with a clearer mentality.” So, how do you get to this point?
While Hot Girl Walking, I usually start out by thinking of the negative things in my life and actively pushing them out, while bringing in everything positive in my life. I like the breathe in, breathe out technique; breathe out of your mouth all bad energy, breathe in through your nose all positive energy and identify those things. I recommend also taking inventory of your life; think about what you're thankful for, how you have grown as a person over the course of the past few months or year, and your goals. Hot Girl Walking is a form of self care, because you are making the decision to prioritize your mental and physical health.
Mendes says she incorporates self care into other parts of her life by “journaling, reading, long showers, or going to the gym” in addition to taking these walks. What sets Hot Girl Walks apart, for Mendes is “that it is a bit of time to myself with just my thoughts and it gives me time to move my body while also getting outside, some things I don’t do often enough.” Making time to be proud of all you have accomplished and getting outside to clear your head by taking a Hot Girl Walk is one of many acts of mindfulness. And of course, don’t forget to think about how hot you are. Not even just physically, but your mind and personality, your jokes and quirks—all of it.
Routes
I have three favorite routes of varying distances and views to recommend for my fellow Emersonians. The first route is roughly three miles and goes along Commonwealth Avenue and comes back along the Esplanade. The second route is four miles and takes you to the north end and my favorite park, Langone park. The third route is five miles and goes through Seaport and back. Bartlett said her favorite route is going “down by the fens towards brookline until I end up in Coolidge corner.” Bartlett recommended stopping somewhere like Trader Joe’s or Starbucks to get a coffee or snack, which Lind, the creator of the Hot Girl Walk also recommends.
A Note on Safety
Before discussing everything you need to know about Hot Girl Walking, I wanted to discuss the importance of your safety and how to be safe while going on these walks. Share your location with your roommates, parents, or close friends at school. For me, I share my location with my roommates and always let them know when I’m going on a Hot Girl Walk. I’ll let them know where I plan on going and how long I plan on being gone for. Always make sure your phone is charged, not only so you can listen to music but also so you can reach anyone in the event of an emergency. Avoid going out too late, try to complete your Hot Girl Walk before the sun sets. If you have earbuds with different noise settings, wear only one earbud or keep them on a transparent setting so you can hear around you.
Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut. If you feel unsafe, do whatever you need to do to get yourself safe. You can even go on Hot Girl Walks with your friends while you are still learning your way around the city! The people around you are a great tool to get familiar with the city.
Benefits & Goals
The goal of Hot Girl Walking shouldn’t be to lose another inch off your waist. It can be a benefit, but we Hot Girl Walk to help our mental health primarily. To let the bad energy and stress out of our lives and embrace the outdoors (or what we can get of them in the city).
Personal trainer, Rachel Trotta said “walking is one of the most consistently underrated forms of exercise out there.” Being outside lets the body take in Vitamin D, which is essential to our overall immunity, and helps our bodies regulate our circadian rhythm, a study by Murray et al. published in 2017 found. Multiple mental health studies have found that working out (hot girl walks included) releases endorphins which reduces stress.
Hot Girl Walking is extremely beneficial both for your physical and mental well being. Whether taking a walk to clear your mind from a stressful day or as a way to set your intentions for the week ahead or just to get out with some friends. So get out there! Take a Hot Girl Walk, enjoy the sunshine and fresh air and most importantly, prioritize yourself. ‘Cause you're hot.