A new U.S. study has found that wilderness hiking can boost creativity and benefit brain health.
This new study, completed by scientists at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, shows that hikers (backpackers) who turned off all electronic devices and hiked in the wilderness for four days improved their creativity test scores by 50%.
In the new study, 56 participants with an average age of 28 completed 4–6 day outdoor hiking activities organized by outdoor adventure agencies in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and Washington. During the hikes, participants did not carry electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets.
Twenty-four participants took a 10-question creativity test on the morning of the hike’s departure, while 32 took the creativity test on the morning after completing the 4-day hike. The results showed that those who completed the hike answered 6 out of 10 questions correctly, compared to 4 out of 10 before the hike.
Is it the “calming effect” of nature that unlocks creativity, or is it the disconnection from electronic devices that boosts it? Dr. David Strayer, the lead psychologist of the new study, says the increase in creativity is related to both factors. He noted that if you don’t have the opportunity to go hiking, that’s okay—activities like taking a walk in the park or gardening are also great ways to connect with nature. Temporarily parting with electronic devices like mobile phones and computers can help improve mental or cognitive abilities. Additionally, listening to music that soothes the mood can also enhance creativity.
Dr. David Strayer, a professor at Columbia University Medical Center, says the key to boosting creativity is: action. Outdoor exercise helps the brain release more euphoric hormones like endorphins, and walking outdoors is more beneficial to mental health than running on an indoor treadmill.