Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

newyorker.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 120 posts

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#21

Post by petra »

agumonkey wrote: post #13
AriaMinaei wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The combination of (roundtable discussions|debates|audiobooks) with (walking|cleaning house|washing dishes|other chores) is the most productive procrastination technique I have. It changes mental context, stimulates the brain, and makes the chore enjoyable. I even sometimes do it while writing code. Of course, I can't take it all in, but I still find that it enriches my experience.

I do chores as yoga exercise, never thought of adding podcast to the blend..

I work in manufacturing, and sometimes i listen to podcasts, but sometimes i meditate(like tai-chi, attention to body movements) while working.

Meditating is harder(and coffee is helpful), but when successful, is much more satisfying.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#22

Post by realharo »

biztos wrote: post #5

This may be today's least original comment, but I've recently discovered the magic combination of podcast and treadmill. (I knew them both, separately, for a long time already.) In addition to helping make 30 minutes of sweating go by much faster, I find it almost always generates a bunch of ideas. Like a little brainstorming walk, if you will, but all-weather and easier to schedule. My current favorite podcast for t…

It also works with audiobooks. It's especially great if you can't find the time to read books the traditional way.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#23

Post by Broken_Hippo »

bootload wrote: post #4

". When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs—including the brain. Many experiments have shown that after or during exercise, even very mild exertion, people perform better on tests of memory and attention. Walking on a regular basis also promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that…

" The next line about walking being easy tells me you live in a flat area with no obstacles."

But it is pretty easy once you get muscle built up and get used to the obstacles. I live in a mountainous area. I climb a fence daily and go over a bit of land with no concrete path - though admittedly everyday walking is on concrete most times. Going out into the countryside doesn't make it any more difficult.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#24

Post by bendavis381 »

realharo wrote: post #22
biztos wrote: post #5

This may be today's least original comment, but I've recently discovered the magic combination of podcast and treadmill. (I knew them both, separately, for a long time already.) In addition to helping make 30 minutes of sweating go by much faster, I find it almost always generates a bunch of ideas. Like a little brainstorming walk, if you will, but all-weather and easier to schedule. My current favorite podcast for t…

It also works with audiobooks. It's especially great if you can't find the time to read books the traditional way.

Audible 2x during any walk or mindless activity means you can easily get through a book a week without any lifestyle changes. Literally has changed me life.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#25

Post by kaeluka »

bendavis381 wrote: post #24
realharo wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It also works with audiobooks. It's especially great if you can't find the time to read books the traditional way.

Audible 2x during any walk or mindless activity means you can easily get through a book a week without any lifestyle changes. Literally has changed me life.

*Literarily has changed your life. Sorry, I'll show myself out :-)

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#26

Post by hownottowrite »

If you like this article you should probably read, Frédéric Gros' A Philosophy of Walking [0]. His book came out in 2014 and inspired a brief flurry of articles focused on the more esoteric effects of taking a stroll.

[0] - https://www.versobooks.com/books/1865-a-philosophy-of-walkin...

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#28

Post by kakarot »

femto wrote: post #7
bootload wrote: post #4

". When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs—including the brain. Many experiments have shown that after or during exercise, even very mild exertion, people perform better on tests of memory and attention. Walking on a regular basis also promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that…

Maintaining balance on uneven ground also works your lower back and pelvic floor more than on a concrete path. Strengthening these can help if you have back plane (and one could argue that chronic pain is an impediment to thinking).

I'll have to try that, my back plane always takes off at the worst time.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#29

Post by Kluny »

seanalltogether wrote: post #27

So why does taking a shower help us think? Or driving a car on the highway to work? It has to be more then just getting blood moving?

It's just about leaving room for boredom in your brain. When your mind has nothing else to occupy itself, it cooks something up on the fly.

Re: Why Walking Helps Us Think (2014)

#30

Post by Kluny »

jasonl99 wrote: post #20
RichardHeart wrote: post #6

Whenever I'm learning things when walking, the location an idea popped into my head is pretty much never forgotten. I'm not sure whether its actually valuable, but it feels like it makes the ideas unforgettable. I'm going to assume the value is real because: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci I think consuming some portion of your subconscious with repetitive activity frees up some blocking on your consciou…

I think you're right. I run basically the same route every time (varying distances a bit), through a county park that's literally down the same sidewalk where I live. I also listen to the same six or seven songs, changing a few of them every month or two. Most people who know this is my routine think this must be unimaginably boring. But within a couple minutes, I don't even notice, and I'm just letting my mind drift…

Hmm, interesting point about listening to the same songs every time. I used to have youtube on shuffle as my go-to work music, but eventually a bad song would come on and snap me out of concentration. I found that a few songs and albums worked well for me, and I could just leave them on repeat. "See you again" by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth is the one I feel weirdest about. It's so cheesy and poppy, and I'll listen to it for hours at a time.
Post reply on HN