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What is Steve Jobs’ 10-minute rule, and what has been found in research?
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known for his unconventional work habits. Many of his techniques seemed strange at first, but over time they have proven to be effective. One of the most discussed is the 10-minute rule. When he was stuck on a problem for 10 minutes, he would leave his desk and go for a walk. This small change often brought him new ideas and unexpected solutions. Many years later, scientific studies have also found evidence of this habit. Researchers at Stanford University in the United States have shown that walking can significantly increase creativity and problem-solving ability. Steve Jobs did not see walking as just exercise; he used walking as a way to think in new ways. He often walked to meetings. He believed that creative work does not happen in an environment where there is pressure. New ideas are born in a free environment and spontaneous workflow.
What is Steve Jobs’ 10-minute rule, and what has been found in research?
The benefits of walking were scientifically proven in a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition in 2014. Researchers Marilee Apejo and Daniel Schwarz showed that the likelihood of creative thinking increases by about 60 percent while walking. Participants were able to come up with many more new ideas while walking than when they were sitting and searching for ideas.
The study also says that even after walking is over, its positive effect lasts for some time. Scientists say that walking removes the brain from boredom. At this time, the brain enters ‘divergent thinking’. A variety of new ideas are created simultaneously. Movement activates the brain’s memory and imagination, increases attention and improves mood. In this way, walking helps break mental inertia and make new connections. Jobs would often return to work after walking and find more effective solutions.
