Do you know what Ernest Hemingway, Friedrich Nietzsche and Steve Jobs have in common? They all extolled the benefits of walking and how it helped them gain better mental clarity
CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on This is Calmer
We know that exercise is good for the brain; regular exercise improves memory and allows one to have better cognition. However, there seems to be more to walking than being one of the most accessible forms of exercise – and that’s because walking can help stir a person’s creativity. Science has confirmed that walking awakens a person’s creative side. A Stanford University study revealed that walking can improve one’s creative output by up to 60%.
So, what is it about walking that leads to a person’s creative brilliance? Jean Deruiter explores the excellent benefits daily walks can have on your creativity.
Awakens creative ability
According to scientific studies, visiting distraction-free places allows you think more clearly. Perhaps this is the reason that plenty of artists go to deserted places to get inspired and soul search. However, you don’t need to have a luxurious holiday to explore new places – going for a brisk walk, and feeling the soft breeze on your face, can present an opportunity for you to find your creative inspiration. Walking is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to feed a creative mind and, at the same time, engage in exercise.
Encourages creative output
Going through writer’s block or feeling stuck in a rut? Heading for a nice walk outside might be the solution. According to a study by Stanford University, walking indoors or outdoors can lead to better creative output. Perhaps exploring a couple of walk-friendly weekend destinations in your area might be what your brain needs. Why not pack your walking gear and visit your nearest trail to get your creative juices flowing!
Refreshes your mind and body
What better way to start your day than to feel fresh air brushing past you? Walking refreshes your mind and body, allowing you to reset your mental health. It boosts your productivity and creative thinking, enabling you to navigate specific tasks throughout the day.
Finding inspiration
Do you know that a lot of people spend most of their time indoors? Most of us, it seems, are in need of a bit of green. When we get out, and look for ways to connect with our surroundings, this enhances both our mental and physical health. It also gives us a boost of Vitamin D, exercises our body, and boosts our mental function. Due to the everyday hustle and bustle, we can easily miss the beauty and serendipity that surrounds us;going for a walk gives us enough time to enjoy and admire nature’s beauty.
Moreover, spending some time in nature allows us to restore our ability to focus on things. As a result, we can improve our creativity, decrease the risk of depression, and improve happiness.
Stimulates learning and response
Walking, just like taking a shower, allows us to focus our attention while simultaneously feeling relaxed. The exact opposite would be browsing on social media, where our brains are constantly processing and thinking about what we’ll do next. Walking can distract our brains, allowing free-flowing information to come from the unconscious mind.
A researcher at WRAIR, Allen Braun, has talked about how de-focused attention can help a person become creative. According to Allen, relaxing from executive functions allows our minds to wander, and this can be the hallmark of creativity. Put simply, walking gives your mind a break; you get to take a pause from being analytical, which allows you to tap into your creativity and problem-solving skills.
Stress reduction
Walking releases endorphins which can help to decrease feelings of stress or pain – the idea that artists need to suffer to experience creativity isn’t necessarily accurate. Our brains function well when we are in a state of relaxation; this is when we direct our attention inward, entertaining an abstract flow of concepts. On the other hand, if we’re hyper-focused, our attention will be directed outward, because we’re thinking about the details of a problem that we want to solve.
So staying focused is great for problem-solving but, in some cases, it can prevent us from connecting with abstract ideas and coming up with ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions.
Decreases inhibitions
To keep your body more energised, it’s important to shake things off throughout the day. Our mental and physical states are interlinked; being able to pause, take a walk or pace your apartment allows you to preserve the physical and mental energy you need to pour into your work. The same goes for when you do smaller movements, such as stretching. In addition, shaking things off can help you to move past any negative self-talk, ruminations, or judgments that you may be experiencing.
At some point in your life you may have experienced burnout; this can leave you feeling mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted, making it incredibly difficult to do what you want or need to do and your creativity, energy and ideas can feel depleted.
Burnout can be a challenging recovery; one of the ways to prevent burnout from escalating is to be mindful of your stress levels. When you’re feeling stressed, you might be surprised how just 10-15 minutes of walking can help to refuel your brain and change your perspective.
You may deem walking as a simple physical activity; however it offers multiple benefits, including improving your physical and mental health, boosting your mood and creativity.
Allow yourself the time to engage in walking activities, wherever and whenever you can – every little helps!
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