Put yourself on the subs bench…slowing down to go faster

When my head is full, I take myself for a walk.

Powering through is sometimes the right thing to do when there’s a looming deadline in an hour! But personally, I‘ve found that ‘powering through’ as a default strategy doesn’t lead to more productivity or more inspiration. In fact, in my working world, the opposite has tended to happen when I don’t stop and regroup:

• My concentration drops

• I’m easily distracted

• I get irritable and look to finish quickly instead of strong

• I’ll read the same piece of writing (report, training delivery, piece of research) repeatedly because I’m not taking it in

I don’t think many of us would argue with the benefits of walking in terms of improved quality of mental and physical health but how often do we actually intentionally build this into our day as a way of building and maintaining our capacity to function in our chaotic world?

It’s a habit I’ve learned to cultivate because my natural inclination was always to power through and a walk was something I would do I when or if I had the time – which was usually never!

Now, when I’m full to the brim with work, the thing that seems most counterintuitive is the thing that helps me most.

I stop.

I stop and I move.

This isn’t frivolous or wasting precious time. In fact, it usually saves me time. I trained as a Physical Intelligence Coach a few years ago and came to understand the power of walking as a powerful catalyst to help reset brain chemistry, boosting dopamine and raising endorphins by simple rhythmic movement, helping to lower cortisol. Walking changes the brain waves from a state of wakefulness, quick-thinking and multi-tasking to a slower state allowing us to access clearer thinking, problem solving and creativity.

Walking as a circuit breaker: sub yourself out!

I used to play touch rugby for a veterans team – that’s veteran in terms of age not military service! We were about a decade older than the other teams and this is a fast moving, exhausting sport.  The rules meant you could (and should) sub in and out for a few minutes to get your breath back, regroup and get back on the pitch with renewed energy. If you stay on too long, you get increasingly tired, slower and less effective. And your team members would not be impressed as you lost the ball to the other team!

So, when I’m powering through something complex at work or when writing, I’ve learned to notice when my concentration is dipping and sub out for a few minutes as a circuit breaker. And moving is the key. Even if I’m just wandering outside to the garden or nipping next door to pick up a takeaway coffee, I’m breaking the cycle, moving and letting my brain settle. I’ve also got a hula hoop by the door at home so I sometimes manage a sneaky five minutes movement to give my brain a boost if time is short and I need to finish something.

One of my clients with huge responsibilities and a full schedule introduced a daily twenty minute walk outside to a harbour close to where he worked. It was his idea, not mine because he knew he would benefit from clearing his head and knew that being by the sea did something for him. Nevertheless, he noticed he would start to talk himself out of it, telling himself he was too busy, it was frivolous and wondered about what others might think. He also didn’t want to work even later than he already did by taking a break.

Gradually he started to experiment by going out for five or ten minutes and now it’s a regular fixture actually plotted into his diary as an appointment with himself. The difference this simple habit has made to his feeling of connection, wellbeing and productivity is not only clear to him but has also now rippled out to his colleagues. By taking these visible breaks and coming back refreshed, he has given his team social permission by role modelling to do the same. He has also introduced walking meetings when appropriate, making the use of outdoor spaces. If it was good enough for Aristotle and Steve Jobs....

Walking to solve problems

When I was studying for my doctorate and trying to bring the whole project together, I would get my best ideas and lightbulb moments whilst out walking my dog, having given my brain a chance to rest. When training as an outdoor coach, I got into the habit of having ‘discovery walks’ if I was stuck with something. Before I left the house, I would name the problem or dilemma I was having and then let it go when I started to walk. But having named it, the brain subconsciously goes into processing mode and I would often have spontaneous insights into possibilities when out.

A colleague of mine talks about ‘taking her problem out for a walk’ in her local park. She speaks to it aloud as a companion as she’s walking along (with her headphones in so she looks like she’s having a phone conversation). Her idea is for the alternative voices around her problem to have a chance to be heard. As with me and my discovery walks above, somehow a strange alchemy occurs and the knots start to unravel in our heads. Solutions aren’t always obvious but some leeway has been made in our thinking that had not happened at our desks. The only challenge then is to remember the insights when you get back to your desk or home!

Walking for decision making

I’ve made some of my best decisions when out walking. I’m going to make a significant shift next year, one that requires me to make some pretty important decisions if I’m going to make it work. I’ve been grappling with lots of different alternatives in the gaps of my busy life in and out of work, not quite able to articulate my way forward with lots of competing strands of ideas floating around.

And then came a walking trip in Provence for my husband’s 60th last month – hosted by the most amazing Provencal Adventures (check it out!). We walked down valleys to clear rivers, through forests and up mountains – I would have preferred rolling hills but it was his birthday choice! And step by step, my head cleared. I had space just to let thoughts about what the next shift could look like come in and out, consider them, work out which were sitting right and which didn’t quite fit. By the end of the week, I was so much clearer about what’s important, what’s coming next and the steps I need to take to make it happen.

And...because we were all chatting during and after the walks, and sharing thoughts and hopes in life, I also came away with new friends and a potential fabulous business opportunity with a wellbeing and writing focus.

People Like Me could be going on tour in the South of France next year – watch this space!

Back to walking…

Walking trips to Provence aside, just being outside, breathing, feeling the air on your skin, to physically and mentally loosen up whilst moving and watching your world change through the seasons is a joy. And it’s free.

Or perhaps it’s a quick hula hoop between projects or tasks, or a walk around the block at lunchtime or walking between meetings instead of taking the zoom option.

I wonder what your day might look and feel like if it could be scheduled in as part of your productivity plan, not an optional add on.