As a new consultant at 2A, I’m learning that thinking on my feet is a key part of my role. Now, “thinking on your feet” is commonly used as an expression to describe being agile in thought. But there’s also research to support a literal interpretation about how being upright and mobile improves creativity and problem solving.
All of this has me thinking, does my choice in shoes hurt my ability to think on my feet?
Put your best foot forward
In his New Yorker article, Ferris Jabar addresses why walking helps us think better. He explains that walking “promotes new connections between brain cells, staves off the usual withering of brain tissue that comes with age, increases the volume of the hippocampus (a brain region crucial for memory), and elevates levels of molecules that both stimulate the growth of new neurons and transmit messages between them.”
Given the leisure of my short, 15-minute commute, I’ve started wearing my tennis shoes to work and carving out time for walking my dog at lunch. The mental break rejuvenates my brain and mood and equips me to put my best foot forward on the next project.
Stand up, sit down, fight, fight, fight
Just as walking stimulates creative thought, so does standing. An abundance of articles and research have pinpointed the benefits of standing during the workday, which include getting a boost of energy (always welcomed after a solid lunch at Lost Lake). Since starting at 2A where standing desks raise and lower all day long, I’ve committed to bringing flats or low-heeled shoes to accommodate the ups and downs. When I feel my energy taking a dip, I fight back by standing up, opening the door to fresh, new thoughts.
Walking and standing at work has literally helped me think on my feet. Whether it’s stepping away for fresh air or moving my desk up to stand, I appreciate those moments of comfort that remind me to take care of my feet.
Got a project that could use some fast thinking or fresh steps? We’re ready to lace up and jump in!