Sitting all day is not only devastating our health and well-being but also crushing our creativity. Research is proving what many stagnant, sore, and overly caffeinated folks already know: sitting is just plain bad for us in increasingly clear ways. The good news is that the simplest way to combat the ill effects of our overly sedentary situation is to leave work at work and take a walk.
To truly get the most from a saunter, we must understand how our productivity increases when we briefly STOP WORKING. Exercise helps us psychologically log off; when we’re physically in our workplace, it’s easier to stop ruminating about it. Clearing our mental browsers with movement away from our desks allows other thoughts and diverse perspectives to upload.
Additionally, the ability of exercise to improve our mood has been well documented (think endorphins, blood flow, oxygenation, etc.). When we’re happier, we’re productive, more engaged, and suffer fewer stress-related issues. All of this translates into stronger performances, better output, and healthier lives. Even if it looks like we’re still on the fence about actually doing the thing, the truth is that taking a walk is important to getting things done.
Not only does walking improve our moods, but it also increases our cognitive abilities. In his book Brain Rules, John Medina asserts that the brain needs exercise to boost its computing power. Exercisers outperform non-exercisers in long-term memory, reasoning, attention, and problem-solving tasks. When we leave our workspace, we return, bringing renewed attention and better brain power, enabling us to work better.
Furthermore, a recent Stanford study found that walking boosts creative inspiration. Researchers examined people's creativity levels while walking versus while they sat and found that a person's creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when walking. Who doesn't want this?
If this isn't enough to eject you from your seat like an overly sugared six-year-old, consider this: physical acts appear to eliminate barriers that restrict thinking and simultaneously foster creative thinking. Studies by psychological scientist Angela Leung at Singapore Management University point to the link between bodily movement and creative thinking. Well-known thinkers like Einstein, Rockefeller, and Thoreau knew this and took daily walks. More recently, Steven Spielberg and Steve Jobs have cited physical movement as part of their creative process.
So yes, we are saying that leaving the desk behind and going for a walk not only fights the well-known ill effects of sitting all day but also recharges brain power and increases creative output. At the very least, walking can help rejuvenate sluggish thought patterns while improving our health and well-being in ways that another cup of coffee never will. Why not try it?
Shostak is an adventure senior lecturer of Adventure Education at FLC with expertise in mindfulness, leadership, risk management, expedition design, and delivery, as well as tons of experience leading others in finding the inter- and intrapersonal benefits of exploring wild spaces.