Living in Cumbria, we’re probably guilty of taking the natural world for granted sometimes. But putting the laptop away and stepping outside might be exactly what you and your business need right now, and there’s evidence to prove it.
Okay, let’s be honest. This isn’t a new idea; the connection between walking and clear thinking has been recognised for centuries. As far back as 1889, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche proclaimed, “all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.”
More recently, though, psychologists have been looking at the evidence behind the impact walking can have on our brains. For example, a 2014 paper by Stanford researchers, ‘Give Your Ideas Some Legs,’ showed that the mere act of walking, irrespective of the environment, can boost creative thinking by as much as 60%. This figure jumps even higher when the walking is done outdoors in natural surroundings, something Cumbria has in abundance.
Creativity is a powerful tool for business, serving as the foundation for innovation. It enhances our problem-solving capabilities helping us to tackle challenges and adapt more quickly to market changes. Creativity also fuels effective marketing and branding strategies, making businesses more appealing and memorable. Ultimately, creativity not only builds a resilient business capable of weathering crises but also opens doors for new growth opportunities.
What’s exciting about Stanford’s research is that it means we can all improve our creativity instantly and for free! We don’t need fancy techniques, expensive training, or innovation gurus—we just need to close the laptop, put one foot in front of the other, and go for a walk.
It’s a technique I use regularly myself. In fact, I came up with the structure for this article while having a quick walk around Carlisle. I also incorporate it into my work with clients; one-to-one coaching sessions in the hills or the forest can bring about meaningful breakthroughs in ideas or business problems that might have seemed insurmountable before.
So, here are a few ideas for incorporating a creativity-boosting walk into your week:
- Take a ‘problem’ or ‘opportunity’ on your mind for a 30-minute walk, and see what happens
- Switch one of your Teams/Zoom meetings to the phone, put your headphones in and step out the door
- Ask your colleagues if you can take one of your regular meetings outside and go for a short walk together
I challenge you to give it a go, and let me know what you learn.
Ben Hickman is a business coach working with small business owners and senior leaders in Cumbria to help them achieve their ambitions find more joy.
