Take a Walk: Lose Weight; Gain Creativity

Feeling creatively empty? Take a walk!

That’s right. New research recently published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, memory and Cognition concluded that people generate more creative ideas when they’re walking than when they’re sitting.

Ah, yes. All those long hours sitting at the computer trying to pull words from one’s brain might be cut short by taking walking breaks.

Marily Oppezzo, a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University and lead author for the study, actually was inspired to undertake the study while–what else–but walking around her campus with her thesis advisor. Read more about it here.

The study showed that walking boosts creative brainstorming, and that increased creativity continues when one returns to the chair. However, walking didn’t have the same positive effect on focused thinking, the type of cognition required to provide specific correct answers to a problem or situation.

Takeaway Truth

I’ve always gotten my best ideas during my morning walk. I’d even noted that when I was stuck in a scene, I could leave the keyboard to do a few minutes of physical housework–the bane of my existence–and I’d suddenly realize what I needed to make the scene work. Next time you’re stumped, take a walk.