How a 10-minute walk can help you work better today

What if making time for small, incremental amounts of movement at work helped you think more clearly, alleviate stress and be more creative?

Here are five ways a 10-minute walk will help you work more effectively and feel better while you Make Your Move at Work.

Movement helps us solve problems

If your project has stalled, put on your sneakers and head out the door. You don’t have to go far - research shows that even small amounts of movement help you think things through. Taking a break may lead to a breakthrough.

In fact, many people find their best problem-solving happens while away from desks and screens. Why not get some fresh air and move more while you figure out how to come up with a creative solution. Can’t get outside? Simply getting up from your desk to walk or wheel around your office for a few minutes also works.

Movement promotes creativity

What you see or experience while walking influences your creativity, so perhaps it’s no surprise that we often get our best ideas when we’re outside.   

Notice the world around you while you’re walking. See the small details while you’re moving about in your own work setting. Whatever you observe may help with a new approach or result in an innovative idea.   

Movement busts stress

Most of us feel stress within our bodies at some point during the work week. Maybe you get tight neck and shoulder muscles or tension headaches, or just find that sitting at a desk and staring at screens for hours is tiring. You can help yourself feel better by heading outside, breathing the fresh air and moving.

Small bouts of movement, like walking and talking for your next meeting, will help you de-stress. Face-to-face meetings are also great for collaboration.

Stretching also helps. Most people feel better after moving just 10 minutes.

Movement boosts concentration

There are plenty of reasons we may get distracted at work: disrupted sleep, family issues, health concerns, financial worries. To help combat a fuzzy head, take a quick morning or afternoon movement break.

Moving for short periods, even 10 minutes, helps us concentrate better and enhances cognitive performance.

Movement helps us organize, plan and prioritize

Do you like to-do lists? Are you always planning that next event, meeting or outing? Do you like to make things happen? You can plan, organize and prioritize with greater focus while you’re moving. Just  stepping away can help us see what really matters.

It can be that simple. Ten minutes of movement today may lead you to the most creative idea you’ve had in weeks, relieve your headache or just give you a bit of perspective. It’s always worth making time to Make Your Move at Work!