Albert Einstein, Friedrich Nietzsche and many other great minds speak to the value of walking for promoting great thinking. Indeed, walking has been found to contribute to longer life, a younger brain, better sleep and much creativity, reports Richard Sima for the Washington Post. A new meta-analysis looks at how walking promotes new ideas.
Creativity involves both “divergent” and “convergent” thinking. Divergent thinking happens spontaneously and fosters a range of original ideas. Convergent thinking assesses them and edits out all but the best ones.
If you are being tested for your divergent thoughts, you will be asked about how different familiar objects might be used in innovative ways. If asked about a paper plate, for example, you might say it could be used as a mask, or rolled up for use as a funnel, or pulled together on the sides to create a mold.
In a meta-analysis of 23 studies, walking was found to improve people’s divergent thinking. It did little to help their convergent thinking. So, walking might not be helpful for assessing new ideas.
The research found that people’s movements affected their creativity. People who walked more before responding to a test on divergent thoughts were more creative, as were people who walked more overall.
People who exercise more appear to engage in more creative tasks such as cooking and music. The studies also suggest that they have greater creative successes.
Why would walking lead to greater creativity? The answer could be that walking has both physiological and psychological benefits.Walking can separate you from what you might be attached to and allow your mind to wander a bit.
Walking gets more blood flowing in your brain and could improve your mood. That said, the data does not support a link between walking and a better mood. Yet, it supports a link between walking and freeing your mind.
What’s notable and makes perfect sense is that creativity was not as evident when people were limited as to where they could walk and could not roam as they pleased. For people sitting, the same was true. When they could sit as they pleased, the study found far greater creativity than when they were directed to sit and stare at something.
Also notable is that walking affects your senses. You hear, see and feel in a different manner, processing these sensations differently while you are moving.
So, if you’re suffering from brain freeze or brain fog or just a lack of ideas, you can do something about it! Get up and walk, even if it’s just around your home.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- The benefits of walking barefoot at home
- Walk more, sleep better
- The health benefits of a microwalk
- Walkable communities good for your memory
- Walk or lift weights? Equally beneficial to a longer life
