Why walking works

Do you have a pressing business problem? Are you stuck in a creative rut? Is there something missing from your upcoming sales presentation or speech? You might find your answer while walking. Since injuring my knee in a biking accident, I haven't been able to run or bike for several months. But recently I have been walking - everywhere. I've been walking to meetings, to a bi-monthly class I teach, to the library, to church, and even to "run" errands. I don't track my steps; I don't listen to music; I don't talk on my phone, and mostly I don't have an agenda, I just walk.

Of course, I've made excuses like I really don't have time, I need to finish a project, or everyone's winter favorite - it's too cold. My friend and professional speaking colleague Dr. Susan Biali walks in the winter weather... in Canada...at -18 Celcius, which is below zero degrees Fahrenheit! Susan says,

"Walks are so important to my MENTAL HEALTH that I will wear this if I have to."

You may have also noticed an increase in mental health issues as a concern in today's work environment. Walking is instrumental in lowering anxiety and helping to alleviate depression.

While I started walking because I couldn't run or bike, one unexpected benefit has been an increase in my creativity, problem-solving, and inspiration for new ideas. It's been so dramatic that I am now regularly taking "think" walks. Below are some ideas that you might consider to have a productive "think" walk (and it's perfectly fine to walk with no agenda at all):

• Write down a short question you need to answer or a problem you need to solve
• Take a 30-45 minute walk with that question or problem in the back of your mind
• If you live in an area that allows you to walk where it's quiet, see how many of your senses you can incorporate into your walk. Look or listen for something that really stands out - an unusual tree, an interesting plant, a bird chirping, cloud formations, etc.

• As you walk, look for patterns, rhythms, colors, or designs
• Walk at a pace that gets your heart pumping but take the time to stop and observe what's around you
• Take a notepad or journal and record any thoughts that come to you even if they have nothing to do with your original problem or issue that you are trying to solve
• Leave your phone at home or turn it off. I've been doing this for blocks of time in the office too
• Occasionally stop to carefully take a 360 degree look around you

If you live in or near a larger city, look for interesting ideas in signs you read, the fonts on a storefront, an item on a menu posted at a restaurant window, or in window displays. Also, look at building architecture, clothing styles, facial features, or car designs.

Read bumper stickers, billboards, messages on t-shirts. What is unique or interesting about the message? What similarities or differences do you see in branding? How is color, white space, or negative space (an art term) used? Sometimes an idea will pop into my brain that has seemingly nothing to do with what I see or hear on my walk. Other times there's an interesting correlation if I think about how the commonalities of the question I am trying to answer relate to what I see or hear. Try to force comparisons about what you see and the problem you are trying to solve.

I think leaders and business owners need to think more often and more deeply. Walking can help facilitate deep thinking. With so many of us working from home, there should be very few barriers to taking regular walks. When I worked at IBM right out of college, there was very little freedom for what author and speaker Natalie Nixon wrote about this week in a Fast Company article discussing the value of invisible work.

Time spent thinking, wondering, or doing something else makes us more creative and productive and ultimately, innovative.