4 ms·

Would listening to music or a podcast or an audiobook interfere with the generation of ideas while walking? I love running and walking but I always feel like I

Would listening to music or a podcast or an audiobook interfere with the generation of ideas while walking? I love running and walking but I always feel like I have to have something playing in my ear during.

dasil003 5y ago
I believe it does interfere. I started walking pretty obsessively during the pandemic as a way to get exercise that I used to get by bicycle commuting. Normally I would listen to podcasts during this time. However a few times when I went without anything in my ears I noticed that I was starting to do real work while walking, and coming up with great solutions to difficult problems. Now I limit podcasts just as I would with TV, video games or any other passive consumption. Nothing against consumption per se—a lot of ideas are seeded from outside—but in terms of creative work there's huge value to being left alone with ones thought. Anything mentally engaging will disrupt that.
- em-bee 5y ago
  i have the reverse experience. thinking interferes with my ability to listen. sometimes i am distracted by some important topic, work or personal or other, sometimes the story i am listening to is not engaging enough. but then i spend most of the day working alone, so i have plenty of time to think. and for me the point of going for a walk and listen to a story is to stop thinking for some time and immerse myself into a different world.
- SamPatt 5y ago
  I second this. I do long distance cycling and always had an audiobook going. One day my battery died and I had an hour and a half of silence. I found my thoughts were enjoyable. I now take some rides without any audio at all.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
ajuc 5y ago
A little. I walked on average 6.5 km daily since March, mostly to lose weight and relax, but I also had a lot of ideas regarding my hobby projects. Usually I listen to critical role or programming podcasts but I often stop listening and find out that 30 minutes went by and I have no idea what they are talking about cause I've been lost in thoughts. Music seems to interfere much less but I'm mostly listening to instrumental. Also going to a new place takes focus so there's a big difference compared to going back.

dasil003 5y ago

I believe it does interfere. I started walking pretty obsessively during the pandemic as a way to get exercise that I used to get by bicycle commuting. Normally I would listen to podcasts during this time. However a few times when I went without anything in my ears I noticed that I was starting to do real work while walking, and coming up with great solutions to difficult problems. Now I limit podcasts just as I would with TV, video games or any other passive consumption. Nothing against consumption per se—a lot of ideas are seeded from outside—but in terms of creative work there's huge value to being left alone with ones thought. Anything mentally engaging will disrupt that.

em-bee 5y ago
i have the reverse experience. thinking interferes with my ability to listen. sometimes i am distracted by some important topic, work or personal or other, sometimes the story i am listening to is not engaging enough. but then i spend most of the day working alone, so i have plenty of time to think. and for me the point of going for a walk and listen to a story is to stop thinking for some time and immerse myself into a different world.
SamPatt 5y ago
I second this. I do long distance cycling and always had an audiobook going. One day my battery died and I had an hour and a half of silence. I found my thoughts were enjoyable. I now take some rides without any audio at all.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

ajuc 5y ago

A little. I walked on average 6.5 km daily since March, mostly to lose weight and relax, but I also had a lot of ideas regarding my hobby projects. Usually I listen to critical role or programming podcasts but I often stop listening and find out that 30 minutes went by and I have no idea what they are talking about cause I've been lost in thoughts. Music seems to interfere much less but I'm mostly listening to instrumental. Also going to a new place takes focus so there's a big difference compared to going back.