Steve Jobs’ ten-minute rule that made him smarter

Modern research confirms that walking can enhance brain function and help solve problems that seem unsolvable when sitting.

Picture this: You’re stuck on a difficult problem at work. You’ve been sitting at your desk for 10 minutes racking your brain for a solution, but nothing comes to mind. What do we do now?

If you were Steve Jobs, the answer would be obvious; get up and go for a walk. Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, was known for taking long walks to think about important issues. In fact, his biographer, Walter Isaacson, noted that walking was Jobs’ method of serious conversation, while legendary designer Jony Ive even recalled spending countless hours walking quietly with him.

But Jobs’ walking habit wasn’t just about enjoying the outdoors. His intuition that walking helps generate ideas is now supported by neuroscience. Modern research confirms that walking can enhance brain function and help solve problems that seem unsolvable when sitting.

Neuroscientist Mithu Storoni, a graduate of Cambridge University and author of “Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work”, advocates what she calls the “10-minute rule.” If you’ve been struggling with a difficult problem for more than 10 minutes without making any progress, she advises getting up and going for a walk.

According to Storoni, your brain doesn’t work like a muscle. In physically demanding tasks, greater effort often leads to greater performance. But for mentally demanding tasks, just sitting and forcing focus rarely gets results. To think of new ideas or solve complex problems, your mind needs to be in a more relaxed state, which allows it to form new connections.

Walking changes the way your mind processes thoughts, Storoni explains. When you walk, your attention moves with your surroundings. You can’t dwell on a single problem for too long because you also have to be aware of your surroundings; like watching where you step or avoiding obstacles. This light mental engagement prevents your mind from getting stuck on an idea, which often leads to mental roadblocks.

This dynamic is key to finding solutions. Walking encourages your brain to explore new avenues without getting stuck. It frees up your thinking, allowing ideas to surface naturally as your mind wanders between thoughts.

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