Mathew Brown

The Productive Walk: Why Stepping Away Helps You Do Better Work

03 November 2025 • 3 min read
productivity focus breaks creativity health walking
Table of Contents

I often say: protect your focus time and avoid distractions. I still believe that. But there’s a simple habit that makes that focus time work even better:

Take a walk.

Not a doomscroll. Not an errand. A short, simple walk — ideally outside, with your phone away, and your eyes looking off into the distance now and then. Done right, 10–20 minutes isn’t an interruption; it helps you come back sharper.

Why a walk helps you work better

Here’s what a short walk tends to do:

  1. Gives you more ideas. In studies, people came up with more and better ideas while walking than while sitting (Oppezzo & Schwartz, 2014).

  2. Brings back your focus. Our attention gets tired when we stare at one thing for too long. Being around trees, sky, or simple outdoor scenes helps you recharge and return more focused (Berman, Jonides, & Kaplan, 2008). Even a city walk with a bit of nature helps.

  3. Lets your eyes relax. Screens and close-up work strain your eyes. Looking far away for a bit eases that. A common tip is the 20–20–20 rule: every so often, look 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. A walk builds this in naturally (American Optometric Association).

  4. Unsticks stuck problems. Stepping away gives your brain room to connect the dots in the background. Simple, low-effort breaks can lead to better “aha” moments later (Sio & Ormerod, 2009).

And there’s a quick boost from light movement itself — short bursts of activity can make thinking feel quicker right after you move (Chang et al., 2012). You don’t need a workout; a brisk loop around the block counts.

“But I’m trying to avoid distraction”

Same. The key is intention:

You’re trading a small bit of time for a bigger return in attention and follow‑through.

How I do “productive walks”

This is the opposite of multitasking. You’re giving your brain one job: reset.

When to use a walk (and when not to)

Good times for a walk:

Skip or adjust when:

Walking meetings?

Great for getting to know someone and early brainstorming; not great for detailed reviews. If you try them:

A simple rhythm to try this week

Try a 90–10 pattern for a few days:

  1. 90 minutes of focused work (one task, notifications off).
  2. 10–15 minute walk (no inputs, look far, easy pace).
  3. 2 minutes to jot any ideas that stuck.

Repeat twice. At day’s end, ask: Did the walks help me start faster, think clearer, or finish better? If yes, keep it. If not, tweak the timing and length.

Short, intentional walks aren’t a compromise on focus — they protect it and help you extend it. Step away now so the work works better when you return.

Sources and further reading:

More Like This