You may have heard the old adage: walk briskly, live well. In fact, behavioral scientists suggest that people who walk faster than average tend to be more successful and intellectually sharper than slow walkers. That statement captures a growing body of research linking walking speed with cognitive performance, health outcomes, and even markers of personality and ambition.
What the research is finding
Several large studies have shown that walking speed correlates with a range of positive outcomes. Faster walkers often score higher on tests of cognitive function, have lower risk of certain chronic diseases, and—over long-term follow-up—tend to live longer than slower walkers. Clinicians sometimes refer to gait speed as a “vital sign” because it reflects cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal health, and nervous-system integrity.
But the relationship is not simple. Walking speed is an easy-to-measure proxy that reflects many underlying factors: aerobic fitness, joint health, nervous system efficiency, and even mood. It’s also influenced by social and environmental conditions like neighborhood safety and occupational demands.
Why walking pace might signal success and mental sharpness
There are several plausible explanations for why faster walking is associated with desirable outcomes:
- Biological fitness: Brisk walking requires better cardiovascular and muscular fitness, which supports brain health through improved blood flow, oxygenation, and metabolic function.
- Cognitive processing speed: Walking involves planning, balance, and attention. Faster gait may reflect faster neural processing and stronger executive function.
- Personality traits: Traits like conscientiousness, time urgency, and goal orientation may make people more likely to walk quickly and also to pursue and achieve goals.
- Lifestyle and environment: People with higher socioeconomic status often have access to more resources—healthcare, safer neighborhoods, leisure time—that support both brisk walking and professional success.
- Signaling and social feedback: Walking confidently and promptly can create a positive impression in professional and social settings, reinforcing opportunities and success.
Important caveats: correlation versus causation
It’s crucial to remember that association doesn’t equal causation. Faster walking doesn’t automatically make someone smarter or more successful. Reverse causation is possible: healthier, wealthier, and more cognitively intact people are simply more able to walk briskly.
Other confounding factors—like age, chronic illness, stress, and local infrastructure—also shape gait speed. Cultural norms matter too: in some cities, brisk walking is the norm; in others, a slower pace is typical and not indicative of personal attributes.
Practical takeaways you can use
If you’re intrigued by the link between walking pace and positive outcomes, you don’t need to overthink it. Small, consistent changes can improve both your walking speed and overall wellbeing.
- Test your baseline: Time a comfortable one-minute walk and measure distance. Then try a brisk minute and compare.
- Improve gradually: Add short intervals of faster walking into daily routes—30–60 seconds of brisk pace followed by recovery.
- Focus on form: Stand tall, engage your core, use a natural arm swing, and land mid-foot for a more efficient stride.
- Add strength work: Leg and core strength improve walking economy and confidence.
- Make it social: Walk with a friend or join a group to increase consistency and motivation.
- Use walking as mental training: Practice brisk walking while engaging in light mental tasks—list-making, problem-solving—to boost multitasking and executive function.
A balanced conclusion
The idea that “behavioural scientists suggest that people who walk faster than average tend to be more successful and intellectually sharper than slow walkers” captures an intriguing and evidence-supported correlation. Walking speed offers a useful, low-cost glimpse into health, cognition, and behaviour. But it’s only one piece of a much larger puzzle: lifestyle, opportunity, and biology interact in complex ways.
So whether you’re naturally fast or more of a leisurely stroller, consider brisk walking as a simple, accessible habit that supports fitness and mental clarity. It won’t guarantee success on its own, but it’s a healthy, scientifically grounded habit that may help you move—literally and figuratively—in a positive direction.