Why Take a Meeting Away From the Desk
A meeting doesn't actually require a screen unless you're presenting something or taking detailed notes off shared code. Most one-on-ones, status syncs, and casual check-ins are just two people talking, and talking doesn't need a monitor. Walking adds a second benefit on top of getting you away from the screen: movement tends to loosen up thinking in a way sitting still doesn't, so the conversation itself often runs better, not just your body.
Which Meetings Actually Work on Foot
One-on-ones are the easiest fit, low-stakes, conversational, no shared document required. Brainstorms and open-ended discussions work well too, since walking seems to loosen up the kind of thinking those calls need. Status updates and check-ins are usually fine. What doesn't work is anything that requires a shared screen, a document you're editing together, or detailed notes you'll need word-for-word later. Save those for the desk.
Making It Not Weird
Say it plainly when you set it up: "mind if I take this one on a walk, I'll have my headphones in." Almost everyone says yes, and most people appreciate not being stared at through a webcam for thirty minutes. If the other person would rather stay on video, that's a fine answer too, this only works when both sides are comfortable with it.
The Practical Setup
Good headphones with a decent mic matter more than anything else here, since wind and traffic noise are the main way a walking call goes badly for the other person. Pick a route you already know well enough that you're not navigating and talking at the same time. And have a way to jot down anything critical, a voice memo to yourself after the call works fine for most things that come up.
When to Skip It
Don't force it onto a meeting that needs your full visual attention, a design review, a shared doc, anything where you'd normally be looking at something specific. And don't take a walking call somewhere too loud or too distracting to actually listen well, the point is a better conversation, not a worse one with extra steps.
Building The Habit
Start with the meetings that are the easiest sell, your own recurring one-on-ones. Once it's a normal part of how you take those, it gets easier to offer for other calls too. A day with even one meeting spent walking instead of sitting is a day with noticeably more movement in it, without having to carve out separate time for exercise at all.