It’s spring again in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern one, so all thoughts turn to being outdoors.
The benefits of being outside are well known. We de-stress, think more clearly, and are better at problem solving when we’re surrounded by the natural world or elements of it, such as daylight and plants. But walking is good for us, even when we’re indoors.
Incorporating opportunities to walk into a structure, for example, by locating the cafeteria at as great a distance from offices and workstations as possible, will amp up the performance of your clients, particularly if those walkways feature views of nature or water/fountains (live or in realistic art) and include natural finishes. Taking a walk, even indoors, benefits cognitive performance and is also a handy way to burn off at least a few of the many calories we consume every day.
Walking inside also makes it more likely that we’ll encounter people casually. In the right circumstances, that can have all sorts of benefits both for us and for the people who sign our paychecks.
Research consistently indicates that walking boosts creative thinking as well as our mental wellbeing and performance, in general. Our memories work particularly well when we’re walking. So, if you’re having trouble remembering why you kept that receipt, take a spin around the office.
Treadmill desks are another way to get some walking in, and when long hallways aren’t available, they may be the only way to work in a “stroll.” Their use in universities has been linked to increased student engagement. Our job performance is likely to improve on a treadmill desk, and we’re more attentive when walking and working at them. Walking while working has also been linked to reduced worker stress and improved interactions with coworkers.
So, kick-off those pumps or loafers and put on some track shoes. Get a move on – and make sure the people who use the spaces you design and manage can as well!
Sally Augustin, PhD, a cognitive scientist, is the editor of Research Design Connections (www.researchdesignconnections.com), a monthly subscription newsletter and free daily blog, where recent and classic research in the social, design, and physical sciences that can inform designers’ work are presented in straightforward language. Readers learn about the latest research findings immediately, before they’re available elsewhere. Sally, who is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, is also the author of Place Advantage: Applied Psychology for Interior Architecture (Wiley, 2009) and, with Cindy Coleman, The Designer’s Guide to Doing Research: Applying Knowledge to Inform Design (Wiley, 2012). She is a principal at Design With Science (www.designwithscience.com) and can be reached at sallyaugustin@designwithscience.com.