I have never solved anything difficult while sitting still. I have only ever recognised the solution afterwards, at a desk, taking credit for it.
Why it works
Walking occupies just enough of you. The part of the mind that circles a problem and tightens around it is busy watching for kerbs, and in that loosened state the problem finally has room to rearrange itself.
Take no podcast. This is the hard part, and it is not negotiable. The input is the thing you are trying to escape.
How long
Forty minutes seems to be the floor for me. Anything shorter and I am still composing emails at the halfway point. Anything longer is a pleasure, not a requirement.
Bring something to write with. The good idea arrives about a hundred metres from home and will not wait for the door.
