Concurrents – Environmental Psychology: Walking to Worthy Goals

by Sally Augustin, Ph.D. | July 31st, 2017

Walking has benefits besides keeping us from becoming tubby. Research consistently shows that taking a stroll has positive psychological implications, as well. Designing opportunities to walk, inside and outside, into a workplace, via planned inconveniences or tempting circulation routes, for example, can have real and immediate positive outcomes. Walking, both indoors and outside, has been linked to more creative thinking by rigorous scientific studies. Throughout history, people seeking creative insights have reported having just the sort of inspirations they sought while walking. Research indicates that walking can boost creative thinking for all of us; its benefits are not reserved for a select few who have been officially designated as “creative.” Walking can also put us in a better mood and help us feel less stressed. In a 2017 issue of American Psychologist, Webb, Rossignac-Milan and Higgins synthesize research related to the psychological implications of taking a stroll. Their work indicates …