I saw an interesting post about Creative walks by Marcus John Henry Brown. You can find the link to the post at the bottom of this page. It’s basically a concept of moving your ass off the chair and going out for a walk to let creativity come in. Many may already know the benefits of walking, but since walking is a basic thing that can be taken for granted, it’s not always considered or remembered as powerful a tool as it is.
The concept behind creative walking is that mental stimulation can be increased through physical activity. Creative walking can be a way to break up the monotony of the workday, explore new environments, and gain fresh perspectives on familiar surroundings. Wandering in nature or other interesting places can also aid to spark creative inspiration and awaken the senses. The sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors can be a great way to connect with the world around us and gain new insights inspired by the environment.
There are many options for how to do walking, for example
🚶 Long walks: letting the mind wander and discover really big ideas
🚶 Short walks: good for framing basic ideas, getting a new perspective
which both have different goals and benefits.
Moving out from the screen is important in remote working because a lot of the work obviously is done in front of the screen or multiple ones.
Walking as a form of creativity has been around for a long time. The following famous thinkers have used it to boost their creativity:
- Albert Einstein
- Ludwig Van Beethoven
- Charles Darwin
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Immanuel Kant
- Charles Dickens
- Henry David Thoreau
- Socrates
- Aristotle
What amazing opportunities remote working gives us to boost creativity and productivity! You can take those walks outside when you have the flexibility to schedule the day in the best way for you. Walking and taking an active break also gives an energy boost which is good for productivity.
The benefits of creative walking from the remote work point of view are for example
🎯 Combating Zoom fatigue: It’s easy to get Zoom fatigue with so many remote meetings, video calls, and chats. A creative walk can provide a natural break from staring at a screen and a chance to recharge.
🎯 Boosting creativity: Especially when working alone, it’s highly beneficial getting outside and see new things that can help to break down mental barriers and inspire new ideas and perspectives.
🎯 Improving mental health: Remote work can be isolating, which can be harmful to one’s mental health. A creative walk allows you to enjoy nature, and get some exercise, all of which can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
🎯 Enhancing work-life balance: Remote work has the potential to blur the distinction between work and home life. A creative walk can help to create a clear separation between work and personal time, making it easier to disconnect and recharge.
I’ve experienced the creativity boost by stepping off the screen many times and just walking around or staring outside or just hanging with my thoughts. It’s an effective style to get the mind going around more freely and get a huge amount of ideas flowing. It works for me really well!
Also, when we had a remote teaching period during the covid-19 in 2020, I went for a creative walk in the forest just outside our house. It was about a 15-20 minute session where I intentionally focused on listening to the sounds, seeing all the surroundings, breathing the air, and just trying to relax. I climbed on the top of a huge rock, closed my eyes, and did some deep breathing to fully relax. It was a very powerful and relaxing way to boost the working day.
Here’s how you can incorporate a creative walk into your remote work day:
- Schedule it in: Just like any other meeting or task, schedule your creative walk into your calendar. Block off e.g. 30 minutes or an hour, and commit to taking a break from work during that time.
- Choose your route: Decide where you want to go for your walk. Maybe there’s a local park or nature trail you’ve been wanting to explore, or perhaps you just want to walk around your neighborhood. Choose a route that’s safe, enjoyable, and offers some variation.
- Leave your phone behind: While it may be tempting to take your phone with you on your walk, try leaving it behind or putting it on airplane mode. This will help you fully disconnect from work and focus on the present moment.
- Engage your senses: As you walk, take note of the sights, sounds, and smells around you. Engage all of your senses and be open to the experience.
- Reflect on your ideas: As you walk, it may be useful to reflect on your work or any problems you’re trying to solve. The act of walking can help stimulate your creativity and provide a fresh perspective on your work or the problem.
Read more about creativity and walking from
🔖 Creative Walks. Ideas: Step by Step – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creative-walks-ideas-step-marcus-john-henry-brown/.
🔖 Stepping Up Your Creativity: Walking, Meditation, and the Creative Brain
– https://brainworldmagazine.com/stepping-creativity-walking-meditation-creative-brain/
🔖 Study: Walking Increases Creative Output By 60%
– https://www.wellable.co/blog/walking-increases-creative-output-by-60-percent/
🔖 Remote Walking Meeting – https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/remote-walking-meeting
🔖 9 Famous Thinkers from History Who Were Habitual Walkers – https://www.flaneurlife.com/famous-thinkers-walkers/
🔖 Why These Nine Famous Thinkers Walked So Much – https://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-great-thinkers-walk/
Walking, of course, relates closely to well-being which is a very important area in remote work and it has tremendous effects on all work areas.
Check also my material section about well-being.
