Re: Walking
I do not yet have a strong opinion on whether walking helps [with thinking] primarily by allowing you to think more clearly or simply because it eliminates the distractions.
I read (about half of) Move: how the new science of body movement can set your mind free by Caroline Williams.
Two really striking stories from this book.
- The theory that our cognitive capacity evolved because of movement: gorillas swinging through trees required a lot of cognitive capacity for route planning and such, and this led to a lot of mental development.
- A sea creature that has a nervous system. It finds a rock to attach itself to, then it never moves again and its nervous system dies.
That book makes me think that walking has huge benefits beyond removing distractions, in that we humans have co-evolved our movement capabilities and our minds, and that movement has distinct advantages for our minds.
I don't walk an hour a day, I think it would be great for my mental and physical well-being. I wish I did it, but I don't.