Why you should go for a walk today
As the days are getting longer and warmer, it’s a great time to get out of the office and stretch your legs with a quick power walk. But walking doesn’t just provide you with physical exercise; it could also have a big impact on the way you work:
Walking could help improve your productivity
Stepping away from your desk and hitting the pavement for a power walk may be good for your cardiovascular health, but it could also help you work more productively. If you decide to take your walk outside you’ll get more exposure to natural sunlight, which could help improve your productivity and even help you get a better night’s sleep.
Seeking inspiration? Take a walk
Stuck in a creative rut and unable to find inspiration? Then a 15-minute stroll in the fresh air may be just the thing you need to rekindle your creative juices. This article from Fast Company explains how taking a walk could help you to avoid the usual stimulation of your working day and allow you some downtime to incubate new ideas. You could even take this a step further and use French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s method of dedicated “thought walking”, where you take a walk for the sole purpose of stimulating and refreshing your thinking.
You could help your brain
In addition to stimulating your mind when it comes to being creative, walking could also be a great way to give the rest of your brain a workout. Studies suggest that taking a walk can boost your cognition, improve your memory and even protect the brain from deteriorating. Exercising also releases a rush of endorphins that can improve your mood and your mental clarity.
As walking could make you healthier, more productive and more creative, why not try to incorporate a regular walk into other areas of your working life? Perhaps installing a treadmill desk will help you stay focussed on those fiddly bits of work that you have to do, or maybe you could follow in the footsteps of Aristotle and Steve Jobs and hold walking meetings instead of boardroom chats? And rather than attending traditional networking events, could you join a netwalking group instead? Remember, walking doesn’t necessarily have to be all about exercising!
Do you take regular walks during the day? How does this affect the way you work? Hit us up on Twitter or leave a comment and let us know.