The relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance has been studied extensively in laboratory settings. In particular, previous studies have found that physical activity is positively associated with executive functioning and creative thinking. Additionally, positive-activated affect (uplifting sensations, emotions, sentiments) has been found to be favourably associated with bodily movements and creativity.
A more recent study¹ aimed to investigate whether everyday bodily movement is associated with creative performance and whether positive-activated affect mediates this association. The study included 79 participants who wore accelerometers for five consecutive days to record their bodily movements. Creativity was assessed through performance tests in both the figural and verbal domains, and self-reported positive-activated affect was measured as a trait.
The findings revealed that creativity, positive-activated affect, and everyday bodily movement were associated with each other. However, positive-activated affect did not mediate the association between bodily movement and creative performance. The results suggest that there is a shared variance between bodily movement and creativity, particularly in terms of fluency and originality, that is largely independent of variations in positive-activated affect.
While the mechanisms underlying this relationship are still unclear, it seems that movement can have a direct impact on creativity. In which case, adding some dynamic activity (such as walking, dancing, cycling) into your day, may help keep any writer’s block at bay!
To test this theory out, I set myself a two week challenge of alternating between creative work with movement on a stationary bike. Wanting to accentuate the compounding benefits of positive-activated affect I added the element of nature (which always uplifts me) in the form of the NOHrD indoor bike. Crafted like a sculpture the wooden frame of NOHrD’s bespoke upright, is designed to mimic the road-feel of cycling outdoors. Its handcrafted body and woody-scent resonate the allure of art and trees—welcomed elements when driving to a local forest between creating isn’t an option.
The design is intentionally minimal—inspired by nature—but you can opt for the pro model with display. The accompanying app includes a variety of virtual journeys for a more immersive experience (my go to route of choice: the Swiss alps). To leverage the synergistic affect of exercise on creativity, there is a bike table you can purchase—allowing you to move and create at the same time!
With an exceptionally slight footprint (47.24 x 30.71 x 22.44 inches), the bike works well in modest spaces and with the exception of a power lead in models with a monitor (fed through the interior of the bike to a hole in the bottom) the aesthetic is clean and mobile-friendly (featuring rubber wheels for smooth and sturdy manuevering).
Weight dispersion is one cavet of moving the bike, be prepared for an uneven load. From a tilted position the pro version extends further as a result of the display, so you will need extra space at the front of the bike.
A few features that make this bike standout…
- Ergonomic handlebar design
- Competition-inspire seat profile
- Planetary gearing technology
- Eddy current wear-free magnetic brake technology provides maximum user efficiency
- Hybrid pedals with infinite resistance variability for comforting functionality
- Made of natural materials with a combination of wood that induces the natural appearance
- Wheel rubber for easy maneuver and sufficient functionality
- NOHrD bike training app with built-in battery power
Considerations to factor in…
- Price: this is an artisan piece, built to last from premium materials and the price reflects that ($4,800 — $5.399AU)
- Maintenance: though not excessive, you will still have to care for the wood and precision parts with regular care
- Assembly: some diy is required initially, though this is fairly straight forward
To learn more about the NOHrD bike and other equipment visit: www.waterrower.com.au
As for my creative output after the experiment, this pattern interrupt of move-create-move-create improved my capacity for diverse ideas. Cycling though deliberate focus and mind wandering as I rode was akin to hitting refresh or clearing the cache of stale thoughts. From a purely personal perspective, I found that using movement as a strategy to boost creative-output aided my ability for original ideas and problem solving. Would I recommend it, definitely!
¹ Rominger, C., Fink, A., Weber, B. et al. Everyday bodily movement is associated with creativity independently from active positive affect: a Bayesian mediation analysis approach. Sci Rep 10, 11985 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68632-9
