The term "Sansaku(さんさく)" originates from Japan and carries a deeper meaning compared to the more casual "Sanpo" (strolling). While both words involve walking around, "Sansaku" emphasizes appreciating the surrounding scenery as you walk. The subtle difference in mindset and immersion gives these two seemingly similar words distinct meanings.

While walking for exercise can be a group activity, many walkers go it alone, and those solo walks can become extremely dull once you’ve explored every possible walking route in your neighborhood. So how can you keep your walks interesting enough that you’ll want to stick with the habit? Here are some things you can try:

Take your camera

Even if it’s just the camera on your smartphone, having something with you for snapping photos can spice up your walks. Treat every walk as a photo walk, and capture trees, plants, and birds you don’t recognize so that you can look them up later.

For even more fun, create weekly treasure hunts for yourself, with lists of things to look for and take photos of. If you live in a rural area, you might have a themed bird week, or if you live in a city, perhaps your treasure hunt can include signs in every color of the rainbow!

Talk to yourself

Just like many of the best ideas come to you when you’re in the shower, a lot of them can also sprout while you’re in motion. Use your smart phone’s built-in voice memo feature or an app like Just Press Record to capture your creative thoughts, reminders, or memories while you’re on the go. Not only will it help you hold on to fresh ideas, but your voice memos can function as a journal of sorts.

Listen and learn

If your surroundings or your own thoughts are still not enough to keep you excited about walking, perhaps you need more input. Traditionally, music has been the main form of entertainment for walkers and runners alike, since it can help you maintain your pace and, well, everyone loves music, right? But modern technology has handed us countless things to listen to besides music, from podcasts to audiobooks to language learning apps.

Take your imagination

Walkr is an app that combines a pedometer with a fun galaxy exploration game. By automatically tracking your steps, it keeps a record of the calories you burn each day! Explore the captivating galaxy while achieving your fitness goals. Find the method that works best for you and turn walking into something you look forward to!