Do you always walk quickly, even without being late? Here’s what it says about your personality

The scene can speak to you. You go for an errand close to home, you walk your dog or meet friends… and yet, you walk as if you are in a hurry. At a good pace, quickly, without pause, but for no reason. If this habit seems harmless to you, it has long intrigued psychology researchers.

For Leticia Martín Enjuto, a Spanish psychologist cited by La Vanguardia, walking quickly without any real time constraints is often the reflection of a personality oriented towards action and objectives. This is obviously not a psychological diagnosis, but rather an indicator of how we manage time, emotions and daily priorities.

A way to move forward… that doesn’t just concern the legs

According to the psychologist, people who walk quickly often tend to experience their day as a succession of objectives to achieve.

Replying to a message, running an errand, arriving at your destination… everything seems to have to be accomplished efficiently and without delay.

This sustained pace then becomes automatic.

These profiles who walk quickly, generally appreciate organization, like to optimize their time and sometimes have difficulty coping with unforeseen events or wasted time. In this context, walking quickly can provide a feeling of control over one’s environment and one’s time.

Conversely, slowing down can sometimes be experienced as frustrating, especially when you have to wait in a line or follow people walking more slowly.

However, psychologists point out that this behavior does not necessarily reflect chronic stress. For many people, it is simply a habit acquired over the years.

Our walking speed is also influenced by our environment

That’s not all. This behavior does not depend solely on personality. Cities themselves seem to shape the way we walk.

A famous study, published in 1999 by psychologists Robert Levine and Ara Norenzayan, compared the walking speed of pedestrians in 32 cities around the world. The researchers timed the time it took to travel about 18 meters.

The observation is clear: in certain metropolises, such as Singapore, residents walk significantly faster than in other cities. The authors speak of a real collective “rhythm of life”, which unconsciously influences everyone’s behavior.

In other words, we also adopt the rhythm of the people around us. And the city seems to intensify our rhythm.

Are people who walk faster healthier?

Surprising fact: several studies have also established a link between walking speed and certain health indicators.

A study by Yannick Stephan and colleagues, published in 2018, showed that certain personality traits were associated with faster walking pace.

Furthermore, a large British study of more than 50,000 adults observed that people who described themselves as fast walkers had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those who reported walking slowly.

Be careful, however: this does not mean that walking quickly directly protects the heart. Researchers point out that a high walking speed is often a reflection of better overall physical condition, rather than a direct cause of this better health.

When should you ask questions?

In the vast majority of cases, walking quickly is therefore nothing to worry about. If you are able to slow down when walking with a loved one or when the situation calls for it, this habit simply reflects your temperament or lifestyle.

On the other hand, if you feel like you can never take your foot off the gas, and this constant acceleration is accompanied by irritability, a feeling of constant urgency, sleep problems or psychological exhaustion, this may be a sign that it is time to take a step back from your stress level.

Finally, specialists point out that a sudden change in your walking speed, especially if it is accompanied by pain, loss of balance or difficulty moving, warrants a medical consultation in order to rule out a neurological, muscular or joint cause.