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We’ve all heard the phrase “So long blogging”—a nod to declining personal blogs. But now, a fresh (and delightfully punny) lifestyle trend is emerging: plogging. That’s right—jogging with a purpose, not just your GPS. Let’s dive in.
What Is Plogging?
Coined in Stockholm in 2016 by Erik Ahlström, plogging blends jogging with litter picking—derived from the Swedish words plocka upp (“pick up”) and jogga (“jog”). It started as a small habit and blossomed into a global movement—over 3 million people in more than 100 countries regularly plog.WikipediaVerywell HealthField Mag
Why “Plogging” Feels Like a Natural Evolution
This trend isn’t just about staying active—it’s purposeful and playful:
- Healthier body, cleaner world: Plogging isn’t your average cardio session. The added squats, bends, and side-stepping burn more calories than jogging alone—around 288 calories in 30 minutes, compared to 235 with standard joggingBezziaThe Indian ExpressVerywell Health.
- Mental boost included: It’s a feel-good habit. Knowing that every trash item you pick up makes a difference brings environmental satisfaction—and counts as meaningful motioneuronewsJoy RunsVerywell Health.
- Community-powered: From organized runs hosted by groups like New York Road Runners to grassroots plogging crews around the world, it’s become a social and environmental ritualThe New YorkerREIWikipedia.
From “Blogging” to “Plogging”: A Shift Toward Action
While personal blogs once offered intimate, long-form expression, plogging offers something a blog couldn’t: embodied expression for the planet. Rather than typing away thoughts, ploggers move, clean, connect—and all of it in real time.
Think of it as a discard-mining blog for your neighborhood. Instead of lines of text, you leave trails of cleaner ground and lighter trash bins in your wake.
How to Get Started
- Grab basics: A sturdy trash bag, gloves (or a grabber tool), and your favorite running shoes.
- Start small: Jog your local park or neighborhood. Treat each piece of litter as a micro-milestone.
- Go social: Join or start a plogging group. The camaraderie makes it more fun—and more impactful.
- Share your haul: Tags like #plogging let others see your efforts and encourages them to join in.SELFTeen Vogue
The Final Word
A farewell to solitary blogs, and a fresh greeting to plogging—a lifestyle that blends fitness, community, and eco-consciousness. If we’re going to reimagine public spaces, this is how we do it: one step, one piece of litter, one smiling plogger at a time.
Ready to swap the keyboard for a trash bag on your next run? Let the clean-up—and the comeback—begin.
