July 2014 PMID 24749966

Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking.

Marily Oppezzo, Daniel L Schwartz

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242

Peak: 9 in Apr 2024

across 6 sources since Oct 2019

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1,072,783

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9,198

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423,350

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Oct 2019 – Nov 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall discussions strongly support the research, with many posts citing scientific studies and personal routines like morning walks or walking desks, emphasizing how walking boosts creativity, inspired by the article's emphasis on real-time and post-walking creative improvements. Phrases like 'research shows' and personal anecdotes such as 'going for a walk before writing' demonstrate enthusiasm and deep engagement, with words chosen to highlight the transformative and practical nature of walking on idea generation.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions express strong support for the article, citing multiple studies and personal anecdotes that reinforce the positive impact of walking on creativity.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high interest, with many participants referencing the research, sharing personal routines, and emphasizing the practical benefits of walking for creative thinking.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several contributors delve into detailed examples, mention scientific sources, and share their own experiences, indicating deep engagement with the topic.

ImpactHigh impact

The broad consensus and numerous examples suggest the discussions highlight a significant influence of walking on creative processes, aligning with the article’s findings.

Abstract in brief

Walking significantly boosts creative thinking in real-time and shortly afterward, as shown in multiple experiments.
Walking on a treadmill or outdoors increased scores on creative tests like the GAU, especially after walking.
Outdoor walking, especially outside in nature, produced the most innovative and high-quality ideas, highlighting that walking encourages the free flow of ideas and benefits both creativity and physical activity.]

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This video discusses how three 15-minute walks after meals significantly improve blood sugar control over 24 hours in older adults at risk for glucose intolerance, offering a simple method to help prevent diabetes.

Fácil y Natural · Feb 7, 2023 21 views

Post-meal Walking Benefits for Blood Sugar Control in Older Adults

This video discusses how three 15-minute walks after meals significantly improve blood sugar regulation in older adults at risk for glucose intolerance, providing an effective alternative to continuous walking.

Fácil y Natural · Feb 4, 2023 5 views

Fzt. Murat ZORLU

@murattzorllu · X

Nov 11, 2025 · 99 followers View post →

勝@多発性硬化症(2013/1~)

@popeye_4869 · X

RT @tarou_ymd_: 歩くと、アイデアが湧く。スタンフォード大学の研究では、歩行中に創造性が約80％も上昇。座って考えるより、「歩きながら考える」ほうが発想が自由になる。歩きながら閃いた経験がある人も多いのでは https://t.co/0QLvly8MTL

Nov 7, 2025 · 1 share · 377 followers View post →

やまだ@腸活×アンチエイジング

@tarou_ymd_ · X

Nov 7, 2025 · 35 likes · 1 share · 7,744 followers View post →

E-tomatot

@ETomatot24044 · X

一応、根拠となりそうな論文を「お作法」に沿う形で添付しますが、この論文の実験自体に再現性はあると保証されるのか？と問われると再現性問題の根深さを考えると自信がありません。 Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking Journal of Experimental

Nov 5, 2025 · 9 followers View post →

Jol Malu

@Jolmalu · X

RT @NTFabiano: Source: https://t.co/TrbshS5d1Q

Nov 1, 2025 · 4 shares · 505 followers View post →

...

@ppoHeisenberg · X

RT @NTFabiano: Source: https://t.co/TrbshS5d1Q

Nov 1, 2025 · 4 shares · 1,417 followers View post →

@JZ2435208238034 · X

RT @NTFabiano: Source: https://t.co/TrbshS5d1Q

Nov 1, 2025 · 4 shares · 105 followers View post →

Comisión Investigación e Innovación Área V SESPA

@sespa5investiga · X

Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking - PubMed https://t.co/iTnvItua87

Nov 1, 2025 · 653 followers View post →

Nicholas Fabiano, MD

@NTFabiano · X

Source: https://t.co/TrbshS5d1Q

Nov 1, 2025 · 27 likes · 4 shares · 124,419 followers View post →

Dr. Gennadi Glinsky, MD, Ph.D.

@gglinskii · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking. https://t.co/vHnz78SWp3

Sep 22, 2025 · 2,074 followers View post →

EUSKALIT

@EUSKALIT · X

Aug 27, 2025 · 2,582 followers View post →

EUSKALIT

@euskalit.bsky.social · Bluesky

Aug 27, 2025 View post →

Breakthru: Microbreaks for the Modern Workday

@breakthrume.bsky.social · Bluesky

Oppezzo, M., & Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40(4), 1142–1152.

Aug 7, 2025 View post →

breakthru

@breakthrume · X

Aug 7, 2025 · 40 followers View post →

The Man Without Qualities

@QualitiesThe · X

@BerlinPhil Brahms said: 'If I don't walk, I can't compose.' Modern research shows a high connection between walking and creativity. https://t.co/KNsSkpBVta

Apr 19, 2025 · 33 followers View post →

Prateek

@thandikheer · X

@mrsiipa Promotion of creative thinking. Study: https://t.co/V21iKvcbHn

Dec 28, 2024 · 118 followers View post →

多胡島伸佳@サプリで身体壊したので自分でサプリ作った人

@t_a_w1121 · X

ルソー、ニーチェ、アリストテレス名だたる偉人が共通して話していたことは、「とにかく歩け」ってことです。時代を経て、それを裏付ける研究がどんどん出ています。歩きましょう。【歩行が創造的思考に与えるポジティブな影響】 Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking https://t.co/gKhhMoyfUP

Dec 13, 2024 · 3 likes · 538 followers View post →

alain servais

@aservais1 · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking. By Marily Oppezzo and Daniel L. Schwartz, Stanford University. https://t.co/tlogbVvO8J

Dec 9, 2024 · 13,417 followers View post →

Salvador F

@salvadorfg.bsky.social · Bluesky

Dec 8, 2024 View post →

StockTrader

@Stocktrader · X

Walking is mid-tier brain juice compared to staring at charts while hugging my waifu pillow. Peak alpha comes from sleep deprivation and leveraged trades. https://t.co/WhB7DAGp0z

Nov 30, 2024 · 38,766 followers View post →

Epiktētos

@rrujdretx · X

Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking. ウオーキングがアイディアを促進させる．歩こう． https://t.co/MMj2zrNlnq

Nov 13, 2024 · 29 followers View post →

Joshua Lengfelder

@QuantumComrade · X

RT @samim: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking: https://t.co/F9aeqoQS22 Research paper found wa…

Aug 12, 2024 · 2 shares · 3,490 followers View post →

Sean Pedersen

@SeanPedersen96 · X

RT @samim: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking: https://t.co/F9aeqoQS22 Research paper found wa…

Aug 12, 2024 · 2 shares · 162 followers View post →

samim

@samim · X

Aug 12, 2024 · 11 likes · 2 shares · 20,190 followers View post →

Alex Thabane

@_alexthabane · X

1. Bi et al. (2020). Meta-analysis of interventions and their effectiveness in students’ scientific creativity. 2. Oppezzo & Schwartz (2014). Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking. Journal of experimental psychology: learning, memory

Aug 11, 2024 · 127 followers View post →

Amit Das

@Godgeez · X

Going to complete my steps! Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking (PDF) https://t.co/ujpCYSvYOM

Jul 27, 2024 · 2 likes · 13,876 followers View post →

Good_Vibes_Only

@Good_Vibes_1717 · X

References: Oppezzo, M., & Schwartz, D. L. (2014). Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition.

May 29, 2024 · 2 likes · 649 followers View post →

Omsanto

@omsanto · X

Akan menjalani kesibukan hari yang butuh ide-ide kreatif? Mungkin bisa dimulai dengan jalan kaki pagi. https://t.co/hjg8QcV7cU

Apr 25, 2024 · 9,239 followers View post →

beSpacific Updates

@beSpacific · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/6huyUpZ5MB

Apr 3, 2024 · 432 followers View post →

Christophe Veltsos

@drinfosec.bsky.social · Bluesky

Going for a walk is good for your creativity? "Four experiments demonstrate that #walking boosts #creative ideation in real time and shortly after." Give your ideas some legs - The positive effect of walking on creative thinking www.apa.org/pubs/journal...

Apr 2, 2024 · 5 likes View post →

POLLWERK

@pollwerk · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking Marily Oppezzo and Daniel L. Schwartz Stanford University https://t.co/J3nubvUjng A+++ Soft physical exercise and improved brain activities Somewhere seen on twitter but I don’t remember

Apr 2, 2024 · 39 followers View post →

Lesley Goodburn

@lgoodbu · X

RT @pash22: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/7b4dKxX8od https://t.co/lt5yvcLAgY

Apr 2, 2024 · 4 shares · 6,060 followers View post →

Antifragilista

@Antifragilista7 · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/bNQL4CJ4zV

Apr 2, 2024 · 1 like · 2,235 followers View post →

⚛️CR Chandrasekar⚛️

@crc8 · X

RT @pash22: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/7b4dKxX8od https://t.co/lt5yvcLAgY

Apr 2, 2024 · 4 shares · 3,294 followers View post →

@bebefrenica · X

RT @pash22: Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/7b4dKxX8od https://t.co/lt5yvcLAgY

Apr 2, 2024 · 4 shares · 390 followers View post →

Ash Paul

@pash22 · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking https://t.co/7b4dKxX8od https://t.co/lt5yvcLAgY

Apr 2, 2024 · 2 likes · 4 shares · 32,243 followers View post →

samim

@samim · X

Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking: https://t.co/F9aeqoQkcu Paper found walking (whether outdoors or a treadmill) increased key types of creative thinking for over 80% of undergraduates. The reasons are not fully clear, but there seem https://t.co/JrPVnFaABG

Dec 18, 2023 · 2 likes · 20,138 followers View post →

Sue H

@HughesSue · X

RT @DrPeterLovatt: Morning meeting - we went out with a pocket full of dog treats - and came back buzzing with ideas. Love this old(ish) r…

Nov 21, 2023 · 1 share · 546 followers View post →

Peter Lovatt

@DrPeterLovatt · X

Nov 21, 2023 · 13 likes · 1 share · 5,752 followers View post →

Tengku Syamil

@tahmadsyamil · X

Walking boosts your creativity according to a study. https://t.co/3uUK1pfXUW

Oct 4, 2023 · 1 like · 2,456 followers View post →

Kadegra Francis

@SunkissesKay · X

RT @muscleforlife: Study: Walking indoors or outdoors for as little as ten minutes can significantly enhance your ability to think creative…

Sep 20, 2023 · 1 share · 180 followers View post →

Mike Matthews

@muscleforlife · X

Sep 20, 2023 · 19 likes · 1 share · 104,709 followers View post →

Francisco C Ceballos

@Ceballos_Gene · X

Ya lo decía Nietzsche: todas las grandes ideas se conciben caminando. https://t.co/fg4fz6HCDs

Sep 8, 2023 · 1 like · 2,246 followers View post →

@luluumuu · X

the positive effect of walking on creative thinking https://t.co/9xqDgGrRTy

Aug 6, 2023 · 126 followers View post →

Julio Rodríguez, PhD | Genética Clínica

@bitacorabeagle · X

Más artículos Pensamiento divergente https://t.co/NXE5RvTqUu Plasticidad neuronal https://t.co/aD5nJ9Mton

Jul 5, 2023 · 3 likes · 28,477 followers View post →

Chris Patrick

@HealthCoachCP · X

3. Go for a 5 minute walk every 2 hours Not only will this give your eyes a break from the screen your brain will thank you to. Walking improves creativity. https://t.co/fTyrjBXxs1

Apr 25, 2023 · 315 followers View post →

~ أمل

@Amalsughayir · X

RT @Alwaleedi_: أشاطرك الرأي أستاذي ، وأضيف أن #المشي يعزز من #التفكير_الإيجابي ، لذا أرى أن إثارة الأسئلة والعصف الذهني أثناء المشي أحد أف…

Dec 31, 2022 · 4 shares · 515 followers View post →

Mohammed Bila محمد بيلا

@Mbila16 · X

Dec 25, 2022 · 4 shares · 23,935 followers View post →

Dr. Ahmed Alojairi

@Dr_Alojairi · X

Dec 25, 2022 · 4 shares · 43,732 followers View post →

عبدالله الوليدي | Abdullah Alwaleedi

@Alwaleedi_ · X

Dec 25, 2022 · 23 likes · 4 shares · 1,243 followers View post →

Josh Brake

@JoshuaBrake · X

@getpaidwrite Science agrees! https://t.co/rEd80XZkvW

Dec 11, 2022 · 1 like · 797 followers View post →

ihatechrisbalualua

@chrisbalualua · X

Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking - PubMed https://t.co/y8FNOa2Q8J

Nov 11, 2022 · 238 followers View post →

soya @ RDC 2025

@soysaucesoya · X

@visualizememe Cardiovasc exercise decreases stress, and improves memory & concentration... benefits go on! It's well known for stimulating the brain. This study (https://t.co/rf3Q4j23yd), looked at “non-aerobic” walking. It seems that a nice stroll is all your brain needs to get more creative!

Aug 26, 2022 · 2 likes · 1,131 followers View post →

Dr Michael Mol

@DrMichaelMol · X

Give your ideas some legs! Compared to creativity while sitting, #creativity can go up by an average of 60% while walking ... that's why I have a walking desk at home. https://t.co/12N83YwcC2

Jul 14, 2022 · 3 likes · 23,912 followers View post →

Dalal ALQahtani

@OMFP1 · X

https://t.co/3i4LDJ24GQ الدراسة

Jul 11, 2022 · 1,785 followers View post →

Dr Michael Mol

@DrMichaelMol · X

Looking to boost #creativity? Skip the caffeine & try skipping instead! Caffeine increases focus & problem solving, but has no benefit to creativity, whereas #creativity increases by 60% while moving https://t.co/12N83YwcC2 https://t.co/R5N8wVgbtq

Mar 16, 2022 · 2 likes · 23,912 followers View post →

Cow

@criacow · X

@Catelli2Oh Oppezzo, M. & Schwartz, D. (2014). Give Your Ideas Some Legs: The Positive Effect of Walking on Creative Thinking. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 40(4), 1142-1152. https://t.co/N4KoIydHNQ

Nov 10, 2021 · 639 followers View post →

Wes Jones

@wesjonesco · X

@samjshore Found it ... 81% https://t.co/A9Spfub9si

May 3, 2021 · 4 likes · 207 followers View post →

Nikn

@Schlappohrpanda · X

@LucvonNordheim @dopanin @bennibaehr Realtalk: Raus gehen, (echtes) Vitamin D tanken und hart "Alman"-Spazierengehen. Bzw. einfach: Gehen, so doof es klingt. Vor allem nach 12 Monate Corona ist das absolutes Gold. Nachweislich auch das beste was du machen kannst. Auch Nachts. https://t.co/dB0AmF0Hcx

Feb 23, 2021 · 9 likes · 4,458 followers View post →

Fay Thompson

@FayThompsonAuth · X

Fitness/writing: Findings in a recent study, https://t.co/Czcu0t2Ru2 "Walking, either on a treadmill or around Stanford’s campus, bolstered divergent thinking: the free-roaming, idea-generating component of creative thought. Consider walking before you write. #FaysWritingTips

Feb 18, 2021 · 1 like · 16,756 followers View post →

Bibliojo

@Bibliojo · X

Going for a walk is easy to do, enjoyable, and free. Even better – it makes you more focused, creative, and productive. Experiments show, for example, that walking “opens up the free flow of ideas” and improves creative thinking https://t.co/EVG7gdBLzX

Sep 30, 2020 · 1 like · 1,586 followers View post →

Dr Michael Mol

@DrMichaelMol · X

Give your ideas some legs! Compared to creativity while sitting, creativity can go up by an average of 60% while walking. https://t.co/12N83YwcC2

Jul 10, 2020 · 4 likes · 1 share · 23,912 followers View post →

Burkhard Kreuter

@BurkhardKreuter · X

RT @WilfriedGrunau: Tag 41. Irgendwie wusste ich nicht, was ich heute twittern soll. Also habe ich einen Spaziergang gemacht, denn lt. eine…

May 3, 2020 · 4 shares · 91 followers View post →

Yes_I_can

@do_engineer · X

RT @WilfriedGrunau: Tag 41. Irgendwie wusste ich nicht, was ich heute twittern soll. Also habe ich einen Spaziergang gemacht, denn lt. eine…

Apr 26, 2020 · 4 shares · 61 followers View post →

VDV

@VDVmagazin · X

RT @WilfriedGrunau: Tag 41. Irgendwie wusste ich nicht, was ich heute twittern soll. Also habe ich einen Spaziergang gemacht, denn lt. eine…

Apr 26, 2020 · 4 shares · 1,512 followers View post →

Wilfried Grunau

@WilfriedGrunau · X

Tag 41. Irgendwie wusste ich nicht, was ich heute twittern soll. Also habe ich einen Spaziergang gemacht, denn lt. einer Studie der @Stanford Universität soll bereits gemächliches Gehen die #Kreativität fördern. Warum das so ist, ist bisher noch nicht klar https://t.co/uZeehLmPkd https://t.co/rPzfu3KN2C

Apr 26, 2020 · 7 likes · 4 shares · 3,970 followers View post →

Mogomotsi Leepile

@MogomotsiL · X

RT @DrMichaelMol: Looking to boost #creativity? Skip the caffeine & try skipping instead! Caffeine increases focus & problem solving, but h…

Mar 18, 2020 · 1 share · 505 followers View post →

Dr Michael Mol

@DrMichaelMol · X

Mar 18, 2020 · 3 likes · 1 share · 23,912 followers View post →

Seçkin Sosyal

@seckinsosyal · X

Give your ideas some legs: The positive effect of walking on creative thinking. https://t.co/MwmcbcXZnG

Oct 10, 2019 · 173 followers View post →

Give your ideas some legs: the positive effect of walking on creative thinking.

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Abstract in brief

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