The Hot Girl Walk: just another Tik-Tok fad - or a great way to boost our wellbeing?

Ashley Broadhurst

‘The Hot Girl Walk’ is a new trend on Tik-Tok. Despite the name, the trend is accessible to all genders and is one that can be participated in no matter where you are in the world. The top liked video alone that mentions ‘hot girl walk’ has 1.5 million likes and all the videos that have been tagged with ‘#hotgirlwalk’ have 243.3million views combined, showing just how popular this trend has become. And fast.

But what actually is it, you ask?

The phrase has been coined to describe a daily walk around a person’s local area while listening to music (or even a podcast) of their choice. Such a simple concept appears to have taken the app by storm. So why has this day-to-day activity suddenly become a huge trend? What’s so good about the ‘hot girl walk’?

Walking has been proven to be good for us, boosting endorphins, blood circulation and blood flow. This means walking exercises the cardiovascular system, improves circulation, promotes heart health and can lower blood pressure. With such physical benefits, walking has been promoted as a good form of exercise on NHS websites. These benefits to our physical health begin to explain why people are taking up this ‘hot girl walk’ in increasing numbers. However, it is not simply the health benefits of walking that are enticing. Walking offers us the chance to explore somewhere new, get some fresh air and clear the mind, meaning the mental benefits are just as great as the physical. During lockdown, many of our days revolved around our daily walk, which was often the only time we were allowed outside. It offered a respite from a burgeoning sense of cabin fever and anxieties that were exacerbated by the pandemic.

With all these advantages it’s no wonder so many people choose to walk 30 minutes to an hour a day - but why do it with music?

Music, just like walking, has scientifically recognised benefits. Music has been shown to increase the amount of dopamine released in the brain which has important roles in our body including being linked to motivation and happiness. Alongside this, music has been shown to decrease the level of cortisol in the body. This is the stress hormone - when it is high it can cause anxiety, insomnia, issues with memory, headaches and digestive problems. Reducing cortisol decreases the likelihood of such problems and also means our bodies are under less stress. Combining these benefits with those listed for walking before creates a formula that improves our wellbeing as well as our physical health, which may just explain the rise of the hot girl walk phenomenon.

Speaking less scientifically, music is hugely advantageous for our emotional selves. Whilst on these walks, music can take us to a variety of places mentally. Music is able to connect us to long forgotten memories which can improve our understanding of ourselves, our lives and our emotions. Not only that, but remembering good times is useful for keeping a positive outlook which in itself builds resilience. This then allows us to better cope with the obstacles modern life can throw at us. The alone time a ‘hot girl walk’’ incorporates means we have time in the hustle and bustle to slow down and focus on ourselves. We have time to explore the memories music reminds us of, explore the emotions the music provokes in us and indeed explore our own thoughts. Music often, in fact, allows us to verbalise these emotions and thoughts in a new way or even express these for the very first time. People may find that music says things they cannot, allowing them to comprehend and share their thoughts and feelings as well as discover their true intentions and motivations. The understanding of oneself that music can create is incredible, and the time and space created on these walks only aids this further. Perhaps, the hot girl walk is actually a ticket to self-understanding, self-love and self-care as well as providing us with physical health benefits. If so, then it is no surprise more and more people are creating a daily habit of a ‘hot girl walk’.

​Exploring the benefits of walking and listening to music in this article, albeit under the new and improved title of ‘hot girl walk’, has shown me just how simple looking after our wellbeing can be. Sometimes all we need is dedicated time to ourselves to exercise and listen to the music we love. Granted, sometimes we need more than this, but this one daily habit seems to be positively impacting so many people’s lives. And if something so simple can have such an impact, then why not promote it on one of the fastest growing social media platforms? If the ‘hot girl walk’ improves mood, physical health and gives us the chance to explore our local areas, then I for one am behind it. So, this summer, no matter where you live, your gender or your age, get creating your ‘hot girl walk’ playlist and treat yourself to some well deserved time outdoors.