The Power of Walking and Writing to Boost your Creativity in Midlife

Midlife can be an amazing time to explore your creativity. The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said: “There is no more powerful force in the universe than a menopausal woman with zest.” – Margaret Mead.

It seems that in midlife and after menopause women find themselves with a compelling need to create. Just because your body is closing a chapter on its reproductive time does not mean life is over. All too often there are negative connotations around Perimenopause and Menopause but it can be an amazing time in life where you have more time to express yourself and dedicate time to your creative passions. This next phase can be one of amazing growth spiritually, physically, and mentally.

This surge in creative power may be rooted in hormones: Dr. Christiane Northrup has theorised that it may be due at least in part to high levels of oxytocin and prolactin, the “bonding hormones.” Add to that the fact that after the hormonal fluctuations of Perimenopause, a woman’s body returns to relative stability when menopause is complete, allowing her to focus her full attention on other things. With children growing up and careers changing women can turn inwards and decide what is important to them.

A simple way to tap into your inner creatrix is to start walking and writing. This simple practice can help you connect to what you want and how you want to express yourself. Whether it is writing, art, poetry, sewing, or painting. Revel in the idea of writing for joy and expression. What would it feel like to create art just because you wanted to?

It turns out that walking is not only good for your physical and mental health but it also boosts our creativity too. It’s popular amongst many writers past and present, such as Ernest Hemingway, J.K Rowling, and Henry David Thoreau for curing writer’s block, allowing the creative juices to flow again.

Science can now back this up. One of the most fascinating studies on this topic was done by Stanford University where they tested “divergent thinking” – the ability to generate creative ideas by exploring many different possible solutions. 176 adults were gathered to take part in a variety of tasks, one of which involved using objects to think up as many possible responses within a 4-minute time frame. If no other participant gave the same response, it was considered original and of creative merit. Remarkably, those that walked had a 60% increase in creative output.

My own journey as a journalist and coach has been that in midlife I wanted to change direction and launch the Creatrix Journey, a business dedicated to setting up walking and writing circles for women around the world so that women could find their inner creatrix. For me, creativity is the lifeblood of everything we do and when people find it and tap into it their personal, and work lives are often happier, calmer, and more fulfilled.

So why is walking so influential for inspiration? 

It seems there is no definitive evidence for this, despite all signs leading to its conclusion. Because walking engages multiple parts of the brain needed to coordinate movement and maintain balance, it is likely this plays an important factor, but there is still much more research to be done.

The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other and the rhythmic cadence of your steps can get you into the magical ‘flow’ state that many artists, writers, and creators talk about. While walking on a treadmill can work, walking in the great outdoors is more powerful to clear the mind, get inspired, and come up with new creative ideas. On top of this, we also know that exercising in nature is not only good for our physical health but also our mental health. By boosting mood and energy, you are helping to improve your creativity.

Let nature nurture you! Your over-thinking mind will clear when you take a walk, consciously seeking out greenery and clouds, listening to the sounds around you, and breathing fresh air.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or creatively blocked, take yourself out for a mindful walk in nature and see what inspiration you can bring back to your desk.

As German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said: “All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.”  The best part about taking a walk is it is free, and you can use your own time to do it, you can choose where to go, how long for and at your own pace. Enjoy the process, and and explore what your creatrix wants to share.