Do you ever feel like you're spinning your wheels when it comes to your creative work?
Like you're pouring all of your energy into it, but somehow, you're still stuck in the same place?
Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and our creative pursuits is to step away and take a walk.
While it might seem counterintuitive to walk away from a problem, it can actually lead to some serious breakthroughs.
There's something about the rhythm of our steps, the fresh air in our lungs, and the sights and sounds beyond our four walls that can help us see things in a new light.
The idea of entering a new environment to regather your thoughts or gain a new perspective is widely adopted by some of the most notable authors, scientists and philosophers.
One small breakthrough gained, and implemented, from a simple 30-60 minute stroll can pay off significantly for many years.
Take, for instance, a simple adjustment I made recently to my process of photographing items for eBay.
By shaving just seven seconds off part of the process - something that I do between 50-70 times per day - will save potentially 35+ hours each year.
That's an entire day-and-a-half reclaimed and put towards other projects or interests.
This change is something simple and something I could have changed many months ago, but I had never considered it.
But if I hadn't taken some time away from work and cleared my mind, I don't know if I would have thought of the adjustment.
Walking can do more than allow for the development of small efficiencies, it can help us find clarity and focus on the world beyond our work or problem.
And that's where the magic happens.
That's where we tap into the power of intuition and inspiration, leading us to those "aha" moments that make all the difference.
It sounds simple, and it is, but I encourage you to take a walk and get a new vantage point.
Take an hour every day, if possible, and find a way to create space between yourself and the problem or challenge.
Walk and just be. Your mind will move between thinking about your work to the surroundings, and back to your work.
The key to a productive walk is as follows:
- not having an expectation that anything will be resolved, but that it could be resolved.
- create a time target needed to clear your head, and schedule it as regularly as possible in your calendar.
- just start walking and let your mind wander, allowing your thoughts to move fluidly between the mundane and the work.
