Three ways spending time outdoors can boost your creativity
There’s no better way to come up with new ideas than when you’re feeling relaxed and happy. Time in nature is perfect for invoking that sense of calm and clarity.
Creative and innovative business leaders enjoy greater competitive advantage. Why? Because they are constantly developing smarter ways of working that are adaptive, more efficient and effective. Everyone has the potential to nurture greater creativity and innovation and every business needs creativity to avoid stagnation or missing opportunities for business growth.
Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to more creative thought is the modern workplace. Too much chronic stress, overwhelm and anxiety are the biggest creativity killers. Fortunately, the solution to this creative impasse is simpler than you think. It’s time to step outdoors.
How time in nature boosts creativity
Intuitively you may recognise that getting out for fresh air and sunshine clears your head and enhances your sense of wellbeing. In addition, there have been a plethora of studies confirming time in nature improves cognition including creativity. Better still we now also understand how this works.
Time in nature reduces stress
Stepping outside into nature for 15 to 20 minutes exerts a calming effect on the nervous system allowing stress levels to settle while restoring attention and executive function. This short break creates the space for creative thinking, so give yourself permission to take that mental breather. This is not slacking off; this is strategic planning to enhance inspiration and imagination.
If you choose to spend your time outside, countless studies have revealed nature’s effect on reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, and increasing heart rate variability.
Moreover, it’s been shown that the imagination network is stimulated by walking through an urban green space or green space but not by walking down a busy city street. Give your ideas legs by going for a walk in nature. It’s been shown 80% of walking participants enjoy an increase in creativity compared to those who sit. Why not create the daily habit of a nature walk to allow those new ideas to percolate while keeping fit at the same time? Bonus.
While a four-day hike is the ideal length of time to produce a 50% increase in creative problem-solving, if your lunch break doesn’t extend that long, 20 minutes is sufficient to give your creative juices a boost once you’re back in the office. If you need others in your team to ramp up their creativity, get them outside too.
Time in nature restores attention
Working hard for many hours each day is not only cognitively exhausting, but it also narrows your mental bandwidth. Stepping outside allows you to engage in soft fascination rather than hard focus, calming the mind and improving your ability to notice what else is happening around you. Try practicing noticing what you see, hear, touch, taste and smell. It’s time to turn your phone to silent and leave the earbuds behind for the full multi-sensory experience. This is because speaking to someone on your mobile phone while outdoors keeps the brain in ‘attention overload’ ie overly focused.
Nature is an artist, revealing a myriad of patterns that are soothing and inspiring. This enables you to see the world in a different light and experience more awe and wonder. Whether you’re looking up at the Milky Way, or watching a magnificent sunset, awe reminds us we are part of something far bigger than ourselves. This expands thinking and broadens perspective.
Time in nature puts you in a better mood
There’s no better way to come up with new ideas than when you’re feeling relaxed and happy. Time in nature is perfect for invoking a sense of calm and clarity to stimulate a flurry of creative thoughts during a period of purposeful mind wandering.
If ready access to green space outside is not available, invite nature in using biophilic design. Install living plants and planter boxes or provide access to green decks or roof-top gardens. Creating green nooks using natural textiles and pictures also invites mental respite. Working next to a window overlooking green space or ensuring maximal natural light also assists in boosting creativity.
Statistics reveal we spend 90% of our time indoors, which can make it harder to be creative.
Knowing time in nature works so well, where could you go when you’re feeling stuck for ideas?
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