Step-by-Step to More Creativity: The Number of Steps in Everyday Life Is Related to Creative Ideation Performance

Research indicated an association of acute and chronic physical activity with creative ideation performance. However, no study to date applied ecologically valid ambulatory methods with the potential to generalize these positive relationships to everyday life contexts. This study assessed acute and chronic physical activity (i.e., number of steps assessed via acceleration sensors) as well as creative ideation performance (in the verbal and figural domain) with an ecological momentary assessment approach in a sample of 157 young adults. We found that both single bouts of walking and walking regularly were associated with more original verbal ideas. Positive affect did not mediate this association; however, for figural creativity, the indirect path of acute physical activity via acute positive affect was significant. Although the relationship between walking and creativity seems to be domain-specific, the study findings suggest that the positive effects of physical activity on creativity transfer to everyday life contexts.

Automated summary

Research has shown a positive association between physical activity and creative thinking, with both single bouts of walking and regular walking being linked to more original ideas. Positive affect partially mediated the relationship between acute physical activity and figural creativity.