It’s no secret that sometimes, our best thinking is done when we are away from our desks.
Like many other higher education leaders, I think creatively all the time. But perhaps my best ideas ignite when I’m on my daily run or walking my dogs.
I’m no neuroscientist, but I know I get a myriad of benefits from my morning runs. Running isn’t just exercise; it’s a way to clear my mind. I have been asked to run with groups, and I decline because it’s my quiet time. I listen to music and let my thoughts take me where they may. I often strategize about what I need to do and how I will do it.
Stepping away from work to problem solve means taking a temporary break from actively working on a problem to allow your mind to refresh and potentially gain a new perspective. This can often lead to more creative solutions and better problem-solving abilities. Days are often filled with meetings, answering chats and emails which makes quiet time to think hard to come by.
Thinking strategically requires us to take a step away to process all the information and let our minds breathe. A few ideas that sprung to mind on recent runs include:
- Developing a presentation on a complicated subject – While tasked with developing a presentation, I couldn’t figure out the best flow. I was stuck so I decided to work on something else while noodling on it. The next morning, I went on a run and ideas started to flow – I decided to start with one concept and then go to another one. As soon as I sat down at my desk, I put the ideas on paper so I wouldn’t forget.
- Creative problem-solving – My team had three hours to fill for a strategic planning session. We didn’t want to have too many slides, but we were struggling on how to best address the need given the amount of time we had. On my morning run one day, I came up with several ideas to make the presentation fun and engaging, and I couldn’t wait to share with my team once my run was over.
- Better work relationships – Another great thing a run does for me is to allow me to vent and think of creative solutions for interpersonal communication. After becoming upset with a situation with a colleague, I replayed everything while on my run. I role-played with myself on what I would say and how I would handle the situation. Not only did I feel better about what took place, but now I had a plan to handle the situation professionally and effectively.
Science backs what many of us feel intuitively: movement fuels mental clarity. Exercise can reduce anxiety and increase a feeling of calmness, plus improve focus, according to Dr. David Linden, a Johns Hopkins University Neuroscience Professor. The advantages also include potentially increasing the capabilities in the brain region associated with memory and learning, he notes in this blog.
According to Women’s Health, a 2018 study by West Michigan University showed that half an hour of running at a moderately high intensity improves things associated with your brain’s ability to absorb and process information.
For those of us in higher education, where the stakes are high and the opportunities for transformation are endless, finding clarity through motion can be a game-changer. It is for me.
Maybe it’s time for all of us to lace up and run toward our next big idea.
