Heads Up: Elevate Your Thinking One Step at a Time
Walking is more than just physical exercise—it’s a way to clear your mind and spark creativity. Often I need to solve a problem or brainstorm new ideas, so I head outdoors for a walk. During the first 10 to 15 minutes, there’s a noticeable shift in my mental state. As I begin moving, those repetitive, familiar thoughts start to dissolve, creating a kind of mental reset.
This clearing of the mind opens up space for new perspectives and creative ideas. There is an additional technique that I use to change my perspective on things, clear my mind even better, and rekindle my creativity.
Shifting your gaze upward and straightening your posture can work wonders, and help open your mind to fresh insights.
I’ve noticed that people often look down at their feet or at the path ahead when they are deep in thought. This focus on the feet or path, facing down, can sometimes trap us in familiar thought patterns, limiting our ability to think freely. To break out of this cycle, try looking up. Take a moment to notice the sky, trees, buildings, or even birds and clouds. This automatically forces you to improve your posture as well.
Shifting your gaze upward and straightening your posture can work wonders and help open your mind to fresh insights.
Here’s an exercise that can help you practice: during one of your next breaks, go outside and take a 30-minute walk. Spend the first half simply walking and reflecting the way you are used to, and don’t try to change anything. Just take your steps as they come, and don’t direct your gaze or thoughts in any way—try to register how you walk, your pace, posture, and breathing, without changing anything about it.
Then, for the remaining time, make a conscious effort to look up and absorb your surroundings. Notice the texture and color of the sky? Do you see any birds or planes? What stands out the most and catches your eye? If you’re in nature, what do the tree branches look like, or if you are in a city, do you see any high buildings or other structures? Can you describe them in your mind, or even by talking out loud to yourself? Try to describe the colors, textures, shades, sounds, and smells that you register.
At the end of your walk, briefly check in with yourself: what has changed in your thoughts, how do you feel, do you detect any shift in your emotions? Are you noticing any changes in thoughts, physical senses, emotions?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this technique. Let me know what you do to shift your mindset.