If You Want to Feel Inspired, Get Moving!
Today’s post will be a short one because IT’S FINALLY COOL ENOUGH TO BE OUTSIDE! I’m not someone who’s in love with the hot humid weather of summer. If you look at my DNA, once my ancestors left the African continent, they headed as far north as they could, and never moved below, say, Northern France. Seriously, like .0001% of my DNA comes from anywhere south of there. Which means, when the 90+ degrees and 70+ dewpoints hit, I get cranky. I’ve actually been fine holed up in my air-conditioned house, or at most on my breezy porch, writing away.
However, I’ve been getting a ton of questions from people who are stuck in the middle of their WIP right now, or just generally feeling that “dog days of summer” ennui where their writing is concerned, and as the weather begins to cool down a bit, it’s a good time to get outside. Taking a long walk is the perfect way to get a fresh perspective on your work. You can explore a new place, or take a walk in your neighborhood. Go without your headphones, so you’re not distracted by music or an audiobook or podcast. Let your mind empty of outside distractions. Focus on where you are, what you can see and hear and smell around you. Get into a rhythm, and let that lull your mind into wandering where it will. Moving the body helps move a sluggish mind, and you may find yourself coming up with a new scene or situation, or the perfect way to move that character from Point A to Point B while remaining true to her emotional arc.
It’s simple biology: as we move, the heart pumps oxygen-laden blood through our veins, which in turn keeps our cells – including brain cells – active. All that blood in the brain is good for our creativity, as studies have shown. Walking leads to more connections between neural networks which can result in increased creativity. It’s not just all that oxygen-rich blood that’s helping: all the stimulation from new visual and other inputs can also spark your neurotransmitters.
If you are not physically able to walk any distance, at least try to sit in nature. The Japanese have a practice called shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” In this article, author Qing Li says it is “simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.” A forest is delightful, but being in a park, by a river, in a garden, or other natural setting will give many of the same benefits.
If you do get a sudden spate of ideas, you can bring a small notebook and pen with you, or record on your phone as long as you don’t get sucked into checking email, responding to messages, etc. I usually go the notebook route, and look for natural stopping points to jot thing down. Sometimes your inspiration won’t be immediate, and that’s okay. It might spark something later. In other words, don’t force it or worry about doing it “right.” Just the act of relaxing your mind allows new thoughts to flow and creative ideas to emerge. If nothing else, it keeps you healthy!
