Behavioral scientists find that people who walk faster than average consistently share the same psychological indicators across studies

You’ve probably seen them without really noticing them. The people who slice through the crowd at a pace that makes everyone else look like they’re stuck in slow motion. Keys already in hand, eyes lightly focused ahead, steps that sound oddly decisive on the pavement.

Sometimes they’re not younger, fitter, or dressed like athletes. They just… move with a different rhythm. You notice them most in train stations, airports, or when you’re late and suddenly realize someone is naturally walking at the speed you wish you could.

Behavioral scientists have been quietly studying these fast walkers for years.

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And they keep stumbling on the same psychological pattern.

The secret psychology hiding in your walking speed

Watch a busy street from a café window and you’ll start to see a strange choreography. Some people amble, drifting from shop to shop, while others carve out a clean line, walking with the urgency of someone who knows exactly where they’re going.

Researchers call this a “spontaneous walking pace” — the speed you adopt when nobody tells you to hurry or slow down. It turns out this simple habit says far more about your mind than most personality quizzes.

Fast walkers, across countries and cultures, consistently show the same psychological markers.

One large study from the University of Leicester, which tracked nearly half a million adults, found something striking. People who naturally walk faster not only tend to live longer, they also show higher levels of perceived control over their lives.

Another research team at the University of Geneva observed that fast walkers scored higher on measures of goal orientation and time sensitivity. They aren’t just moving quickly because they’re late, they’re wired to treat time as something real and tangible, almost like a budget.

There’s a subtle internal clock pushing them forward, tick by measured tick.

Behavioral scientists think walking speed is a kind of “revealed preference” of the brain. You don’t negotiate it in your head every morning. Your body simply expresses how urgently your mind feels about the world.

People who walk faster tend to rate themselves as more decisive, more future-focused, and more willing to take initiative. Slow walkers, on average, report higher tolerance for ambiguity and less pressure to control outcomes.

One researcher summed it up bluntly: walking speed is a moving snapshot of how engaged you feel with life.

What fast walkers are really doing differently in their heads

Look closely at a fast walker on a Monday morning. Their behavior starts long before the first step. They often leave the house with a mental checklist, not always written down, but clearly sketched in their mind. That mental structure changes how they move through space.

Behavioral data shows they’re more likely to plan routes, estimate travel time, and adjust their pace without consciously thinking about it. It’s not that they are stressed every second. They’re simply used to matching their body speed to their inner priorities.

Their gait is almost a physical to-do list.

Psychologists also notice that fast walkers tend to “pre-decide” tiny choices that slow other people down. They pick a side of the sidewalk and stick to it. They weave early around a group instead of waiting to see what happens. They glance up at traffic lights before reaching the corner.

These micro-decisions free up mental energy and cut delays that most of us just accept. Over time, that creates a loop: small efficiencies feed a stronger sense of competence, which reinforces a brisk pace.

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We’ve all been there, that moment when you walk beside someone faster than you and suddenly realize how many tiny hesitations you have built into your own stride.

Behind the scenes, there’s also a deep emotional layer. Studies on “behavioral activation” show that people who move faster often report feeling more agency: the belief that their actions actually change outcomes. That belief naturally accelerates them.

On the flip side, slower walkers, especially those who are chronically slow beyond physical reasons, sometimes score higher on measures of learned helplessness and low motivation. They don’t necessarily feel that moving faster would change anything.

Let’s be honest: nobody really thinks about all this when they’re crossing the street.

Can you “learn” to walk like a fast walker?

The surprising answer many scientists suggest is yes — at least partially. Your baseline pace is influenced by personality and health, but it also responds to small, repeated habits. One simple practice some therapists use with low-motivation clients is “purpose walking”.

You pick one daily route — to the bus, to the store, around the block — and decide to walk it at a slightly faster, intentionally purposeful pace. Not rushing. Not power-walking in gym clothes. Just moving as if each step already knows where it’s going.

At first, it feels a bit fake. Then your brain starts to catch up.

A common mistake is to treat walking faster as a performance, turning it into yet another self-optimization challenge. That usually backfires. People spike their speed for a week, get exhausted, and silently declare, “This just isn’t me.”

A better mindset is to treat pace as a conversation with yourself. On days when your inner world feels foggy or heavy, using your body to slightly lead the way can be quietly therapeutic. On days when your mind is racing, slowing your walk can stop you from burning out.

The goal isn’t to become the fastest person on the sidewalk. It’s to align your movement with the life you say you want.

Researchers who work in behavioral activation often sound less like lab scientists and more like coaches. They know how small shifts in movement can rewire stories we tell ourselves.

One psychologist who studies daily habits told me, “Walk like the person you’re trying to become, not like the person you’re afraid you already are.”

Here are a few low-pressure ways to experiment with walking pace in real life:

• Pick one “fast lane” route per day where you walk 10–15% quicker than usual.
• Decide your destination and time before you leave, then match your pace to that intention.
• Use the first 20 steps out of your home as a mental “on” switch for the day.
• Practice walking with your eyes slightly farther ahead, instead of staring at your feet.
• Once a week, do the opposite: take a deliberately slow, wandering walk to reset your nervous system.

What your own walking pace might be trying to tell you

Your walking speed is not a moral score. It doesn’t make you a better or worse human. But it might be quietly broadcasting how much you trust your future, how much you feel your time matters, and how engaged you are with what’s in front of you.

Next time you head to the supermarket or walk from your car to the office, notice yourself. Not to judge, just to observe. Do you drift? Do you charge? Do you adjust to whoever is next to you without even realizing?

*Sometimes the most honest personality test doesn’t ask you questions, it watches what your feet are already saying.*

FAQ:

• Question 1Does walking faster mean I’m automatically more successful?
• Question 2Can I become a fast walker if I’ve always been slow?
• Question 3What about people with health issues that affect speed?
• Question 4Is walking slowly always a bad sign psychologically?
• Question 5How can I safely experiment with a faster walking pace?