The research: While prior research shows a link between regular aerobic exercise and cognitive abilities, asking someone to take a 30-minute run to improve their creativity simply isn’t always practical. So researchers at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education conducted a study involving 176 people and tested whether taking a short walk would be enough to boost creativity. They found that those who walked instead of sitting or being pushed in a wheelchair gave more creative responses to tests involving creative thinking (such as finding alternative uses for common objects). Of the students who tested creativity while walking, 100% came up with more ideas in one experiment (four studies took place), while 95%, 88%, and 81% of the walker groups in the other groups gave more creative responses when compared to responses they gave while sitting. What it means: Taking advantage of the positive effect of exercise on creative brain power does not have to involve a long, sweaty workout session. A short walk of only five to 16 minutes was enough to show improved creativity, according to this study. “The creativity boost showed up even on a treadmill in a small bare room, and it remained when participants were seated after their walk was over,” says Marily Oppezzo, PhD, of Santa Clara University, lead researcher. The bottom line: “For problems that require generation of new ideas, a different perspective, or analogical thinking, walking while brainstorming is a great prescription,” says Oppezzo. More from Prevention: 14 Walking Workouts To Burn Fat And Boost Energy
