Why taking a short walk can help you to re-set, re-energise and re-ignite

An Easy Daily Hack to Regain Calm, Creativity and Clarity

Whenever I feel I am losing my calm, hitting a mental block in creativity or needing some clarity of thought I go for a quick walk. I love long walks but sometimes just stepping away from the desk and outside for 5-10 minutes is all that is needed.

Calm

As walking is a gentle exercise it gives us the chance to release pent up mental stress without over-stressing the body in doing so. Walking beyond the confines of our workspace also changes our environment and therefore also our perspective. The act of walking helps to regulate our breathing and physiological state and that, in turn, improves our psychological state.

Creativity

The change of environment also produces new stimuli that promote creativity. As we allow our minds to wander our subconscious can get to work on whatever problem we are facing. This allows for the ‘eureka’ moments that come when we are in a more relaxed and mentally passive state.

Clarity

As Sasha Doyle pointed out, the question that we all need to focus on is ‘What’s the most important thing I need to do today?” The challenge is, when we are drowning under a deluge of competing demands, it is hard to gain the clarity needed to properly answer that question.

Just a short walk can create some distance from the demands to allow clarity of thought. With this cognitive as well as physical distancing one can properly assess priorities and make sure the most important thing is truly the most important (not just someone else’s most important thing).

So, no matter where you are. At home or the office, the city or in the country, go for a short walk to re-set, re-energise and re-ignite.

If you want the right answers you have to start with the right questions

About The Right Questions

The Right Questions is for leaders who want coaching towards greater clarity, purpose and success. We are all leaders (whether we know it or not) as we all have influence. So the question is, what are you doing with your influence?

Wherever you are on your leadership journey, I hope that you find resources on this site to help you on the next leg of your quest. Even if that is just the inspiration to take one small step in the right direction, then that is a success. If you can take pleasure in learning and travelling as you go, then so much the better.

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