We have all heard that a person’s lifestyle affects his well-being and longevity. But the realities of our lives are such that most of us have to spend 8 hours or more sitting at a table in front of a computer monitor. Many of us devote more time to this activity than to sleep. A sedentary lifestyle is really extremely negative for our well-being.
The lack of physical activity contributes to the development of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. If you sit more than six hours a day, the likelihood that you will die in the next 15 years is 40% higher than those who sit less than three hours. This is true even if you exercise.
Which exit?
It is clear that our working culture associated with a sedentary lifestyle is a serious problem. But what can we do about it? Silicon Valley Executive Director Nilofer Merchant says “sitting is new smoking,” and she shared her solution to the problem.
She looked at her busy schedule and realized that meetings made up most of her day. Against this background, the Merchant began to experience a lack of time for training. Her decision was even too perfect. This is the Walking and Talking technique.
It turned out to be a truly elegant solution with many advantages. What seemed complicated harmoniously fit right into the schedule of the working day. After changing the style of the meeting, Merchant notes that she walks from 35 to 50 km per week.
A change of scenery also has advantages for the quality of your discussion and generation of ideas. At the Dent the Future conference, author of the book “Think Like Sherlock Holmes” Maria Konnikova told the audience that studies show that a 30-minute walk in nature allows a person to solve problems that he could not solve while in the office.
“Being inside the confined space of the conference room, you reduce your susceptibility to new ideas,” explains one of the followers of the technique, Kristen Galliani. “Meeting while walking is great for brainstorming, feedback, and solving complex problems,” adds Merchant. “Being close to your employees for a walk is an opportunity to face the problem together and find a way out.”
Walking also makes the meeting more memorable. Dr. Ted Eitan of the Kaiser Permanente Health Center says that when moving in changing conditions, people are able to recognize someone we have met once before under the same conditions.
Popular idea
Merchant is not the only leader holding meetings on the go. Google Program Senior Manager Mary Ellen Player says, "Walking is a new golf course, especially for women." When she met with the master of the network, Heidi Royzen (known at the business school), they walked the dog Roizen in the vicinity.
The player said that the non-traditional format of the meeting made their communication much less stressful than they expected. “You walk side by side, so it’s not like a business meeting when you can start to fuss.” Dr. Eitan says that science confirms this: when people walk, they better control themselves, their surroundings, and their emotions.
According to Player, the meeting during the walk made it easier to ask questions: “I felt that she received something from the meeting. We not only discussed a number of important issues, but also trained. ”
The merchant completely agrees with this: “People make an appointment with me if they want to walk on foot.Some of my interlocutors arrive from Alaska and Belgium, having spent many hours on the plane and then in a taxi to discuss important issues. Therefore, hiking is a really good solution. And not only for them, but also for me. ”
How to walk and talk?
So, the benefits are obvious, but how can you include walking in your meeting schedule? Here are some tips from professionals.
Walk duration
Walk about 60 minutes. “Most people lose interest in the discussion in an hour,” Merchant explains. “It's about how long you can hold attention and discuss an idea.”
Type of meeting
According to the Merchant, walks and conversations are best suited for exploring an idea, building a common goal, or deeper acquaintance with each other. But ordinary planning meetings should not be carried outside. “Project management meetings where you are simply trying to get new information are not very suitable for this format,” says Galliani. “Meeting for a walk is more an idea than a tick.”
Accessories
Comfortable walking boots are needed, but Merchant says that if you are going to wear sportswear, do not overdo it. The main thing is that the clothes are comfortable. It is not necessary to choose a tracksuit for this. After all, on a regular walk you don’t change into special clothes. Just make sure before your walk that your shoes are comfortable and that you are dressed for the weather.
Meeting place
Think of a route in advance. It should not be a busy street. Go to the nearest park or square, where proximity to nature and solitude will help you not to be distracted from important negotiations. It is advisable that the weather be fine outside.
Mini walks
Even if you can’t take a full walk, you can just go to the conference room or make an appointment in a cozy cafe. Use these few minutes spent with the interlocutor to create an agenda by tuning into a productive dialogue outside the office. Even a short walk that you take together to the cafe can be used to good use.