Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow – Thoreau
Demons hate fresh air – Linn Ullmann, quoting her father on walks
With Spring in full bloom I’m rambling through Nashville remembering how great long walks are. Not just for exercise but the capacity for thought really seems to open up. Being outside engages your senses and allows the mind to work in different ways.
Many people have noted the change in perspective that a walk can bring. Great writers throughout history were noted for their long strolls through the city, countryside, or suburbs. Bob Dylan was once picked up by police in New Jersey during one his own epic mid-tour walks 2, he just wanted to clear his mind before the show.
One of the most famous modern walkers was Steve Jobs, who would take every opportunity he could to hold “walking meetings” while they brainstormed new Apple designs 3. But he’s not the only person to swear by the benefits of a mindful meander. TED speaker and entrepreneur Nilofer Merchant says she walks up to thirty miles per week just for work and tells stories of five more great thinkers who swore by their strolls 4.
Stanford even ran a study in 2014 to measure the effects of walking on creative thought 5. To borrow from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”. Researchers found that walking increased creative thought by up to 60%! Certainly there are a lot of factors in play, but the boost is so significant it can’t be discounted.
For me, a device free walk is a way to disconnect my brain from whatever problem I’m working on. But in a strange way I’m still working on the problem. While my active mind focuses on the environment, other people, animals, etc, my unconscious mind goes to work on the problem 6. It’s a similar phenomenon to having flashes of insight in the shower or as you’re going to bed.
You’ll note I said “device free”. Another important aspect (for me) is to be untethered from my phone during the walk. I still try to carry a notebook with me during a walk to capture any ideas, insights, or questions I’m noodling on. But left to my device(s) I’ll still pull up Instagram or YouTube at some point for a little pointless scrolling. If I can’t help myself I need to constrain myself.
Your assignment for this week is to go for a walk. It could be the very thing that helps you generate more creative thought and have the breakthrough you’ve been searching for. At the very least you’ll be breaking up what’s most likely a long day of sitting, which has benefits all on its own. If you’re a regular walker already, hit reply and let me know if your experience has been with a regular walk.
See you out there,
Matt
Sources
- Opening quotes found in Austin Kleon’s new book Keep Going
- When Bob Dylan Met Officer Buble, Esquire
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- Walking meetings? 5 surprising thinkers who swore by them
- Give Your Ideas Some Legs, Stanford University
- There Is No Such Thing as Unconscious Thought
Photo by Joshua Ness on Unsplash