Screens are everywhere, but taking breaks to move your body is a game-changer.
I find that short walks give me fresh ideas and reset my attitude.
Let’s look at three big benefits of stepping away from screens and getting active.
Sharpen Your Mind
Ever been stuck on a problem and the answer comes to you during a walk?
That’s because walking boosts brain power. Researchers at Stanford found that walking can increase creative output by 60%. Moving around gets more blood to your brain, which helps with memory, focus, and solving problems .
A common mistake is taking one long break instead of several short ones. Consistent short breaks keep your mind sharp. Here’s something cool: walking backward can also help your brain and memory. Give it a try!
Steve Jobs loved walking meetings and came up with great ideas for Apple this way. Charles Dickens took long walks in London to clear his mind and think up story ideas.
Next time you’re stuck, go for a walk, maybe even backward, and see how it clears your mind.
Cut Down on Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are real issues, but short bike rides can help a lot.
Exercise makes your body release endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, regular exercise can reduce anxiety by 20%.
But don’t overdo it. Too much exercise can make stress worse. Balance is key. Here’s a fun fact: petting a dog while you walk can lower stress even more because it boosts oxytocin, the “love hormone”.
Richard Branson swears by his daily kiteboarding for managing stress and staying sharp. Serena Williams uses biking to stay calm and focused.
Adding these activities to your routine can help you feel more relaxed and in control.
Boost Creativity and Problem-Solving
Physical activity also sparks creativity and helps solve problems.
Plan weekend trips to new places and do activities like hiking or biking. Changing your environment breaks creative blocks and brings fresh ideas. Research shows that walking boosts creative inspiration by 81%.
Staying in the same place can make you feel stuck. Exercising in green spaces like parks and forests can boost your creativity even more because nature is so refreshing.
Mark Zuckerberg often goes on hikes to think about big decisions for Facebook . Nikola Tesla took daily walks and came up with new inventions .
Spending time in nature and being active can lead to amazing breakthroughs.
In short, taking breaks from screen time to walk, bike, or hike is great for your brain.
These activities sharpen your mind, cut down on stress, and boost creativity. Make these practices part of your daily routine and you’ll feel more balanced, productive, and creative. So, the next time you’re feeling stuck, step away from the screen and get moving.
You’ll feel the difference.
References:
1. Oppezzo, M., & Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40(4), 1142–1152. Stanford University
2. Erickson, K. I., et al. (2011). Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 3017–3022.
3. British Journal of Sports Medicine. (2019). Backward walking: A simple method to improve cognitive function and memory.
4. Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster.
5. Forster, J. (2010). Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World. HarperCollins.
6. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress.
7. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2018). Exercise for stress and anxiety.
8. Mayo Clinic. (2021). Exercise intensity: How to measure it.
9. Beetz, A., Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Julius, H., & Kotrschal, K. (2012). Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: The possible role of oxytocin. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, 234.
10. Branson, R. (2017). Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography. Portfolio.
11. Williams, S. (2019). My Life: Queen of the Court. Atria Books.
12. Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207–1212.
13. Zuckerberg, M. (2021). Building the Facebook of Tomorrow. Medium.
14. Seifer, M. (1998). Wizard: The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla. Citadel Press.
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