Written By: Cabrina Becker, MS2
A Hot-Girl-Walk in the Snow
Many people’s psychological well-being can suffer during the cold winter months. One possible activity that may help mitigate or improve such feelings during the winter is exposure and engagement with nature, which has been shown across multiple studies to improve various aspects of psychological well-being and positive personal body image. For example, the “Hot-Girl-Walk,” a fitness and lifestyle trend that originated on TikTok during the pandemic, is a walk that is done to improve mental and physical health. The Hot-Girl Walk can be any length and done alone or with friends.
There are many other studies that show the positive mental health effects of walking outside in beautiful green spaces or near a natural body of water. However, less is known regarding the impact of nature exposure during winter. A recent study by Czepczor-Bernat and colleagues published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health examining the impact of a winter woodland walk on positive body image (i.e., state body appreciation) now shows that winter landscapes can also have similar positive effects. Participants consisted of 87 women. Only 4 men enrolled, so the final analyses focused on the women participants. Winter walks in the snow-covered woods of Poland were conducted in small groups. Before the walk, each woman completed measures of Self-Compassion, Connectedness to Nature, and Body Appreciation. The Body Appreciation measure was also assessed after the walk. The results showed that approximately 40 minutes of time walking in this snowy natural space resulted in a higher body appreciation. Additionally, greater improvement in the Body Appreciation scores was observed among women that also scored highly in Self-Compassion.
A possible explanation for this finding is that walks in a natural environment offer an opportunity to “shift attention from an aesthetic view of the body to a greater appreciation of the body’s functions.” Importantly, the results of the current study showed that the beneficial effects of nature exposure on personal psychological well-being can still be obtained during the winter, even when most of the scenery is covered in snow. Previous studies have focused on the positive verdant environments during warmer seasons. The current findings suggest that exposure to nature is also beneficial during the winter months, although the authors do acknowledge that other factors may affect well-being during wintry months in complex ways (e.g., cold weather, more limited activities, etc.). However, these results clearly show that even a simple walk during the winter can help improve one’s mental outlook. These findings also highlight the importance of having access to a natural environment, such as a park or trail.
As we enter the winter months and the temperature starts to drop, let us remind ourselves to get outside, get moving, and be kind to our bodies.