Give your ideas some legs
137: Taking a walk will boost your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Steve Jobs was known for holding meetings while walking. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, has also been attending meetings on foot. When solving complex problems, Albert Einstein would take a walk to the beach.
A Stanford study from 2014 resulted in some incredibly impressive findings that might shed some light on why. The findings support that walking can lead to brilliant insights and extraordinary creativity. Here's what the research found.
Walking is far more effective than sitting in terms of generating creative ideas
Indoors, subjects were evaluated against a blank wall while sitting or walking on a treadmill. Alternatively, some walked outside, either in the fresh air or being pushed in a wheelchair down the same path.
The researchers discovered that walking improved creative output by 60% on average compared to sitting. They characterized creative work by measuring "divergent thinking," or the ability to generate a wide range of innovative ideas by experimenting with several alternative solutions.
You don't need to go for a long walk to improve your creativity
Many of history's greatest brains and authors were noted for their long daily walks, some of which lasted several hours. You don't have to travel to these lengths to gain a creative boost: the study discovered effects on creativity from 5-16 minute walks.
Walking has a creative impact that extends beyond the walk itself
People were more creative both while walking and afterward while sitting down. So, if you (like me) want to sit down at a computer to write or think, you can stimulate your creativity by taking a brief walk first.
Walking inside worked just as well as outside
Walking'sWalking's creative effects were proved both outside and on the treadmill while facing a blank wall. If you can't get outside for a walk at work but still want to produce some creative ideas, you may pace the corridors or take a little walk on a treadmill (if your workplace has a gym) to get your creative juices flowing.
You don't have to break a sweat to reap these advantages
Cardiovascular exercise has long been known to stimulate the brain. It reduces stress, boosts memory, and increases attention and concentration. The list of advantages is lengthy. This study, on the other hand, focused on "non-aerobic" walking. A pleasant stroll is all your brain requires to become more creative.
According to the study'sstudy's authors, "walking allows for the free flow of ideas." This is one of the most entertaining study projects I've ever seen.
So, the next time you're stuck or have a problem you can't seem to solve, get up and go for a quick walk. Then sit down and go over the issue again.
At the very least, you'll have stretched your legs and had a brief rest.
As an extra benefit, you're much more likely to come up with creative, novel solutions to any problem you're attempting to tackle.
You might also make it a habit to go for a walk with a coworker, a friend, or your spouse whenever you have a problem to solve. Aside from the pure pleasure of walking with someone, you'll be able to come up with better ideas together than if you just sat down over a cup of coffee.