Move to Solve: Change Your Surroundings to Change Your Thinking

Incompatibility between brain and body states can hinder problem-solving, indicating the need for a different environment to facilitate new approaches. Implementing a strategy such as taking a walk after spending ten minutes on an unsolved problem can significantly enhance cognitive function. Physically moving helps align the brain and body physiology, maintains an alert mental state, and encourages active engagement with thoughts without becoming lethargic. The dynamic nature of the surroundings while walking keeps attention shifting, allowing for exploration of multiple problem-solving avenues. This movement prevents rumination, as the brain cannot fixate too long on a single issue due to the need to focus on the walking environment.