Sometimes the most basic of basic is genius. Especially in tech, we spend a lot of time diving deep into high-functioning solutions but often look directly past the best solution sitting right in front of your face. One of my favorite levers to pull is also one of the easiest; getting out of your seat. This simple concept can have a profound impact on your team, company culture, and ultimately, your success. Oh, and if you care, it’s also superb for your body, mind, and soul.
In the early days, I fell into a common trap many face. I was constantly in my office, hunched over my computer, working tirelessly. If I could tell a colleague how many straight hours I spent working on a project, I was almost elated. Time spent was dollars earned; or so we all thought. It wasn’t until I long into my journey that I realized that the longer I sat still, the less I actually got done. This despite the fact that damn it, I know I was sitting there that long. Why the hell didn’t I get anything done? This is as simple as it is elusive; because your brain simply stops functioning at the level you want it to after being called upon in that manner, for that long. Like putting 87 into a Ferrari, this won’t end well for the engine, your brain.
Peeling this back a little more, we can divide this into distinct segments.
Segment one, physically moving around. Concentration is a muscle, and one that fatigues quite easily. Stepping out resets that clock and infinitely re-sharpens the edge. My body is quite tolerant of the vast many things I ask of it. That said, the payment it requires is simply that I pay constant attention to not being stagnate. Why do we sit on endless Zoom calls now? Why not skip one or two a day and walk instead. I now prioritize this several times a week and, to the best of my knowledge, absolutely no developers have been harmed in the writing of this article.
Which leads us to segment two, which is to stay mentally active too. Getting out of your seat sometimes means less literally and more figuratively. Taking a stroll through a competitor’s store (yes, still physical but hold on) snooping around on their website, learning more about how their customers differ from your client’s is not only a refreshing way to spend an afternoon, it will actually pay off in the long run for all involved. Prioritizing this can feel often like being soft, lazy, or procrastinating. In fact however, critically thinking about a problem from an opposing viewpoint, re-affirms and clarifies your own vision and, if you are luckier still, makes your idea better.
Remaining fluid in both cases opens the doors to greater creative freedom as well as keeps your mind open and clear which allows me infinitely more latitude for keeping track of the moving parts of my life. The benefits of this practice are tangible but not perhaps immediately obvious. Keeping this in your direct field-of-view has been critical for my ongoing health both physically as well as in the business.
