Walk it Off!
Zein Al Maha Oweis (Zee) is a PhD Student in Media and Cultural Policy, researching the impact of Facebook on shaping perceptions of disability.
As I settle into my daily routine being back from my home in Jordan, I look back at how I have made it so far in my journey as a PhD student here at the University of Glasgow. I have been in Glasgow for a year and seven months – has it really been that long?
I still remember how stressed I would get at the start of my PhD in October of 2020, and how I would try to find ways to balance my time being a researcher while trying to have a social life on the side. It was tough at first, as I had to manage finding ways to reduce my time using the computer for Zoom sessions and writing drafts of my chapters, while balancing dance classes, pub nights and sleeping for eight hours.
Then one day while sitting in the library, I get a ping on my mobile phone from my Facebook app, and I am faced with a memory of the time I did the Ultra Challenge London Walk with my cousin in 2018. The Ultra Challenge Walk is a 25 km charity walk around London, where the route takes you across sixteen of London’s famous bridges. That year I did the walk in five hours and raised funds for Retina UK, a non-profit organisation that focuses on supporting people who, like me, are diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).
It reminded me of how I loved the adrenaline rush that surged through my veins when walking – knowing that with every step I was reaching the finish line. When I did the walk all I could think about is how free and not stressed out I was about my work. My mind was blank. No worries keeping my brain on alert like a locomotive train running. That is when I came to the realisation that one of the only ways to calm my stress and nerves was to walk it off.
Every day I would walk to and from campus. That was my daily exercise during the lockdown days when I first moved to Glasgow. It was a way to get out of my flat and just take a break from the screen. My reward at the end was grabbing a big cup of coffee - have to feed the coffee-addict in me! I began to research on how healthy walking is as I took longer walks and became more confident in my routes around the West End.
Here are some benefits of walking that might be helpful for other PGR students which have helped me throughout my PhD journey so far:
1) Good bye sweet tooth: I used to crave white chocolate while I was writing my chapters during the first weeks of my PhD. These usually came after ten pm when I was mostly doing all-nighters. I would always tell myself “just a tiny bite” but, in the end would have consumed a whole chocolate bar (yikes!) However, when I started to walk I stopped getting these cravings.
2) Reducing the risk of breast cancer: A study by the American Cancer Society found that women who walk seven or more hours a week reduce their risk of getting breast cancer by 14%.
3) It reduces joint pain: Studies have shown that walking helps reduce hip and joint pain and even lowers your risk of getting arthritis. No wonder my physiotherapist recommended I walk every day in order to help my flat feet (or as I like to call them, penguin feet). As a PGR researcher we tend to sit for long periods of time in front of a computer screen, writing, attending Zoom workshops and supervisor meetings, or even transcribing interviews. We tend to go into the zone and forget ourselves. This can lead to back pain and arching of the spine. If you feel like you are spending too much time like this, then it’s time to walk it off!
4) Walking boosts your immune system: Studies show that walking helps protect you during the cold and flu season. No wonder my sinuses have not acted up as they usually do in the cold weather here in Glasgow. If you want to reduce your sick days, here is your way out – just remember to wrap up as it can get very chilly during the winter season.
If you find it hard to walk alone then you can always ask a friend to walk with you, making the journey more enjoyable. For me walking helps me calm my nerves as I mentioned above but also help switch off my workaholic brain. It is also a wonderful way to learn about a new city you are visiting or living in, and discover its hidden gems.
KiltWalk
Since my return to Glasgow from Jordan, I have been gearing up for my third KiltWalk, which I will be doing on April 24th. The KiltWalk takes place around Scotland to raise funds for Scottish charities of your choice. The best part is that you get a 50% top up of what you raise from The Hunter Foundation.
Last year I convinced three of my friends to do the walk with me, and in the span of 6 hours we completed 25 km. Even though I ended up on the couch the next day as my muscles were sore, I was so thrilled with how the walk went that it motivated me to do my second KiltWalk in September 2021. We took on The Mighty Stride, a 16-mile (26 km) route, starting at Glasgow Green and ending in Dumbarton. During these walks I got the chance to not only detach myself from my research, looming deadlines but, make new friends as so many others did the walk with us. The highlight was seeing all the dogs that participated. Side note – make sure to keep some blister bandages with you and some muscle relief cream for when your muscles begin to ache during the last miles/kms of the walk! Especially since this year will be my longest charity walk to date: we will be walking The Mighty Stride to Balloch Castle County Park (22 miles/36 kms).
The best decision I made was start walking. Not only has it made me feel healthier about myself and my body but, it has helped keep my mental health in check. It also has helped me sleep better at night as it is a good way to tire my body after studying for long periods of time. As Friedrich Nietzsche says, “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”.
