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Stuck on a problem? Stress spiralling as your day (and your brain!) gets too busy?
Walk it off! Take a conscious, curious step outside. And, if you can, take a teammate with you.
THE EXPERIMENT
Schedule a short stroll into your working day. The twist: challenge yourself to notice three things on this walk you’ve never paid attention to before.
Shift Your Focus Forget looking at your feet/ scrolling on your phone/ worrying about the next meeting. Today, you’re going to actively scan your surroundings!
Engage Your Senses Tune into colours, sounds and scents. Is there a pattern in the pavement? A birdcall you’ve never noticed?
What stands out? Why did these details catch your attention? How do they make you feel?
WHY TRY IT
Curiosity acts like a workout for your brain By stepping away from routine – and engaging with your environment – you activate mental pathways that boost creativity and reduce stress.
Mindfulness boost Focusing on your surroundings draws you into the present moment, calming a busy mind and lowering cortisol levels.
Novelty sparks joy New stimuli trigger dopamine release, heightening feelings of satisfaction and curiosity.
Increased Creativity Studies from Stanford University show that walking—especially outdoors—stimulates divergent thinking, the kind that helps you solve problems and generate ideas.
MAKE IT STICK
Mix It Up: Take a different route each time to discover new details in familiar places.
Involve Others: Invite a friend or colleague to join you and share what you each notice—it’s a great way to bond and expand perspectives.
It doesn’t take much to turn an everyday walk into a shared voyage of discovery!
CURIOUS FOR MORE?
See the fun we’re having with outdoor meetings at TCX