Boost Your Creativity with Walking: Leveraging STEPN to Tap into Your Subconscious Mind

When it comes to enhancing creativity, many people may think of various strategies such as brainstorming sessions, meditation, or even taking breaks from work.

However, one strategy that has been employed by many of history’s most famous and prolific artists, thinkers, and creators is simply taking a walk.

In today’s article, we’re going to show you how you can leverage STEPN to channel your creativity. Let’s get to it!

Walking x Creativity

While many people may think of using STEPN mainly for their physical gains, you might be surprised to learn that you can use STEPN to superpower your creative channels.

What is it about walking that makes it so beneficial for creativity? There are several potential explanations.

One is that walking provides a change of scenery and a break from the monotony of our daily routines. By taking a step back from our usual surroundings, we can gain a fresh perspective on problems or challenges we may be facing in our work or personal lives.

Another possible explanation is that walking allows us to engage in what psychologist and creativity expert Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls “flow” — a state of mind in which we are fully absorbed in an activity and our sense of self and time become blurred. Engaging in flow-inducing activities like walking can help us tap into our subconscious minds and access new ideas and insights.

Additionally, walking has been shown to have a variety of physiological effects on the brain that can enhance creativity. For example, exercise has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, which can help improve cognitive function and enhance creativity. Walking has also been shown to increase the production of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which can help improve mood and reduce anxiety, both of which can be major roadblocks to creativity.

But don’t just take it from us.

Research has shown that walking can be beneficial for creativity. A Stanford study found that walking increased creativity in both divergent thinking (generating multiple ideas) and convergent thinking (combining multiple ideas into a single solution).

In addition, many well-known creatives have spoken about the benefits of walking for their creativity.

The English poet William Wordsworth was known for his love of walking, often taking long walks in the Lake District of England. He believed that walking helped him connect with nature and find inspiration for his poetry.

Painter Vincent van Gogh was also known for his long walks through the countryside and around cities such as Paris and London. Salvador Dalí, a surrealist painter, had a deep love of walking in the countryside near his home in Catalonia, which he believed helped him tap into his subconscious mind.

In more recent times, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has spoken about how walking has helped her with her writing. In an interview with The New Yorker, she described how she would often walk around Edinburgh, Scotland, where she lived at the time, to work through plot problems in her writing.

And renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami is known for his daily routine of waking up early, writing for several hours, and then going for a long run or walk. In an interview with The Paris Review, Murakami described his routine as “a kind of repetition training, to focus my mind.”

Closing Thoughts

Incorporating walking into your daily routine doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming, and you don’t need to be a famous writer or artist to benefit from more creativity in your life. Even a short walk around the block during a break from work can be enough to clear your mind and add some inspiration to your life.

Making walking a regular part of your routine, whether it’s a daily walk in the park or a weekend hike in the mountains, can have numerous benefits — physically, mentally, and even creatively as you now know. Here at STEPN, we’re dedicated to helping you boost your well-being in all forms.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even come up with your next NFT project idea on a STEPN walk!