Walk to Think: Put on Your Sneakers to Boost Your Creativity

A pleasant stroll keeps the waistline trim and makes sure our brains work as well as they can.

Christian Rominger and teammates determined that walking is linked to more creative verbal thinking. All of which is unlikely to surprise anyone who is a fan of author biographies—gifted writers regularly walk to get their creative juices flowing, perhaps to overcome problems with plot or character.

The best sorts of walks are ones that proceed at a pace that’s comfortable for the walker. This is no surprise. Science also makes it clear that walks don’t have to be outdoors to boost our creative performance—even a stroll on a treadmill can do the trick—although the idea of strolling across a meadow or a moor does have a certain appeal.

And why shouldn’t it? Being outside, in nature, can be mentally refreshing and it can give our mental performance an extra boost—but the key finding in Rominger's research is that walking in itself has a powerful effect on what goes on in our minds. These effects continue after a walk comes to an end, back at our desk and in the armchair where we write.

The lesson: If creativity is important to you, make sure you have plenty of opportunities to walk. If walking outdoors isn't agreeable to you for one reason or another, add a treadmill to your life. If you’re designing or building a home or a workplace, add an inside walking loop around the core of your building—you’ll be able to walk in any weather, the heat, the cold, or even rain.

Landscape your yard, if you have one, using curving paths and pleasant destinations, such as bird feeders (if you like bird watching) or patches of your favorite plants, which may or may not have sprouted, to encourage yourself to stroll onward.

Although we’re focused on creative thinking, all the calories you burn while walking may result in a physique that you’re proud of, one that also boosts your self-esteem.

When you’re trying to resolve a thorny issue, take a walk and think creatively.

Source: Eva Bronzini Pexels