Outdoor thinking for inside people
Why walking outside changes the shape of a difficult question — and what reflective walking sessions actually involve.
Some questions cannot be answered at a desk. They are too big, too tangled, or too tightly bound up with the version of you that has been answering questions all week. They need different scenery — literally.
Walking changes the shape of a problem. Movement, distance from the building you usually solve things in, and the steady rhythm of a footpath all combine to give the thinking brain room to breathe. Add a coach walking quietly beside you, and the work that emerges is often the work that needed to happen.
Reflective walking sessions are not therapy in nature, and they are not a wellness experience. They are coaching, outside. Highly effective for leaders who think best when they are not being looked at.
About the author
Katy Draper is a Registered Nurse, ICF ACC credentialed coach and burnout specialist with 40+ years inside UK healthcare. She works 1:1 with senior clinicians and healthcare leaders.
