During my first year at the University of Michigan, I would occasionally walk to get around campus, but I was mostly taking the bus or paying for an Uber. That all changed in winter 2025, the first semester of my senior year, when I made a serious commitment to myself to improve my health. And the easiest way to do it? Walking.
The first time I made a round trip from Alice Lloyd Residence Hall to the Michigan Union, it felt like a marathon, but over the course of the semester, I’ve noticed major health improvements such as weight loss and stress reduction. As you prepare to start your freshman year, realize it’s the perfect time to improve your health without adjusting your busy schedule to make time for the gym. It might sound impossible at first, but trust me, making the conscious choice to walk instead of driving or taking the bus can pay off in major ways.
We’ve all heard the countless horror stories about the dreaded “Freshman 15,” the tendency for students to gain about 15 pounds during their first year at college. Between events with free food, late-night study sessions with pizza and coffee for fuel and dining halls that are the college equivalent of Golden Corral, those unburned calories will add up. But even just 30 minutes of walking a day is good exercise. That’s roughly the equivalent of a round trip from North Quad Residence Hall to Ross School of Business or a one-way trip from South Quad Residence Hall to the School of Public Health. By the end of the day, you might be surprised by just how far you’ve walked, and by the end of the week, you’ll realize just how much exercise you’ve done without even trying.
Whenever you miss the Blue Bus or it’s just too packed to squeeze in, the most time-efficient option would be to pull up your Maps app and speed-walk to class. But who knows what you’ll discover along the way if you take it slow! You might find a secret shortcut, a cute chubby squirrel that you send a picture of to all your contacts, the perfect outdoor study spot for sunny September afternoons or even a new all-time favorite restaurant on South University Avenue.
Walking also opens doors for connection. If you’re out for a casual Sunday stroll through the Diag, you could run into a member of the Squirrel Club feeding peanuts to a squirrel, or a classmate from your lecture that you’ve never gotten the chance to speak with before. Five minutes later, you’re both ranting about your professor or brainstorming ideas for an essay due this weekend that neither of you have started. Some of my best college memories didn’t happen in classes, but on the walks to and from them. And when you’re not buried in your phone waiting for a bus, you’re far more likely to notice a friendly face or start a spontaneous conversation. Over time, walking makes this huge campus feel a little smaller and a lot more personal.
In the midst of adjusting to college life, it’s easy to fall into the trap of convenience by taking the bus from point A to point B. But if you take a step back and embrace the simple act of walking, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor. Walking isn’t just exercise: it’s a way to know campus shortcuts, be a healthier you and turn a big university into a place that feels like home. So lace up those walking shoes, and maybe I’ll see you on the sidewalks.
Welcome to campus, and happy walking!
Daily Staff Reporter Kayla Lugo can be reached at klugo@umich.edu.
