All it takes is a walk, especially when you have a creative block. Creativity, it seems, springs from a walk, run, or dog walk, and that explains why you can sometimes have brilliant ideas while walking.
Many thinkers, from Darwin to Nietzsche, who as early as 1888 said, "Believe not ideas that do not arise from fresh air and movement," have all supported walking and outdoor activity as sources of good ideas. Now, even scientists agree and admit that there is a connection between activity and creativity.
According to Dr. Chong Chen, assistant professor in the department of neuroscience at Yamaguchi University, Japan, "Any movement can awaken creative thoughts." In the study in which he participated, "The Effect of Brief Stair-Climbing on Divergent and Convergent Thinking", it is shown that it has positive effects on the birth of creativity and the stimulation of imagination, even when we do activities that last only a few minutes, such as : Climbing the stairs.
Alex Mclntosh, who is the creative director of Create Sustain, a consulting company, says that when he needs a creative idea and mental clarity, he simply runs or walks outside the office. "I don't train, but I feel the difference. When my body feels stiff, my brain adapts, so I feel stuck and frustrated. Sometimes, I take a brisk walk to clear my mind."
Research has shown that there are 2 aspects of creativity.
Divergent thinking – the connection between two different things, which may seem at first glance to be unrelated (the apple falling to the ground and the theory of gravity). This aspect is considered as divergent thinking.
Convergent thinking – weighing ideas comes from a controlled and deliberate mental process. (data of a crossword).
Studies show that divergent thinking is what is often known as "thinking outside the box" and it is precisely this type of creativity that is most stimulated by physical activity. Numerous studies have looked at the positive effects of sports and various activities and have noticed that people with an active life have more creativity.
If you are thinking that your work or life does not need creativity, think again, because many challenges we face every day, starting from compiling a business plan, preparing a healthy meal, combining the day, or children's entertainment, require creativity. "We usually associate creativity with people who 'do' artistic things, such as painters, architects or poets," says Dr. Christian Rominger, health psychology researcher, continues: "But we all have the potential and the need to be creative people."
How exactly does physical activity help unlock creativity?
Exercise has long been known to benefit the brain, both for mental health and cognitive function. "When performed regularly, physical activity can cause structural changes, such as an increase in brain volume, especially in the area in which cognitive aspects, memory, concentration control and information processing" says Amir-Homayoun Javadi, an expert in cognitive neuroscience. . Consequently, this gives the brain more potential to be creative.
But, of course, you may need some time, so in cases where you need an idea faster than usual, "acute exercise" (a single exercise session) is suggested, which temporarily improves blood circulation, suggests the expert. Walking and moving will bring fresh oxygen to the brain and stimulate the proteins that are responsible for the growth of brain cells.
"This is why you may have arrived at a perfect idea or solution, after a walk or a run, even though you didn't consciously think of the idea," says Javadi.
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