The best way to boost creativity at work… and it’s not coffee.

Person walking on boardwalk path in whenua/nature.

I requested to meet with an award winning Taupō business manager, their idea?

Turn it into a walking meeting.

They were right. Just a few steps can lift your mood and fire up your creativity. Whether it’s a solo stroll or a chat on the move, research says it’s not the distance that matters it’s simply walking.

1. Stanford (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014)

Walking—whether outdoors or even on a treadmill indoors—boosted creative thinking by up to 60% compared to sitting. The act of walking itself, not the environment, sparked more ideas—and the creative boost even lingered after participants sat back down.

news.stanford.edu

PubMed

2. Psychology Today/New Zealand (2025)

Recent findings reinforce the message: brief, low-intensity walks elevate originality and divergent thinking, while walking with colleagues improves mood, reduces stress, and strengthens team connection.

Psychology Today

3. People Development Institute (PDI, 2025)

Walking meetings significantly improved workday dynamics participants reported being more engaged than during seated meetings. Movement helps spark cognitive engagement and open, collaborative conversations.

peopledevelopmentinstitute.org

Could walking more benefit you and your staff?

Make it simple, make it fun, add a reminder, get it done.