Are you too busy to go hiking?

Being busy is a badge of honor in today's world.

If you're not constantly busy, you must be lazy. And if you're not struggling, you're not trying hard enough.

These are the thoughts we're constantly telling ourselves. The truth is that if you slow down, take time to go for a hike, you'll be more productive.

As an engineer, I hold several patents. Designing and creating things was my job in life.

But I don't remember ever having a good idea while sitting behind a desk.

All of my inventions and good ideas came to me while I was out in nature exercising.

The brain works in mysterious ways

When I was training to run a marathon, I would spend hours running on the beach. At that time, I was living on Hilton Head Island off the coast of South Carolina. The highest elevation on the entire island was 16 feet above sea level, so I didn't have any mountains to train on.

I found that running in the softer sand away from the water was hard work and would get my heart rate up in a hurry.

Since I had all that time while I was running and using my muscles, my brain was free to do other things.

What should I do with my brain while running?

I tried memorizing words in Spanish and other memory repetitions, but that was a flop. I found that my brain was totally useless at going over a list or memorizing anything when my heart rate was up.

But, I found I was super creative when my heart was pumping hard and extra blood was flowing to all parts of my body, including my brain. (I later found out that there was scientific evidence and a reason for this.)

While I was running, I was very creative. That's when I came up with all kinds of good ideas. I wasn't just inventing things. I came up with solutions to problems about business and life.

I'm not inventing things now, but I still find that I never have a good idea while I'm sitting at my desk. My good ideas about a book I'm writing, or any problems in life, come to me while I'm out hiking in nature.

Now, when I get stuck while writing a book, I've found that if I get away from my computer and go for a hike, I come back full of new ideas.

When you're exerting yourself physically, your body produces endorphins, which increase creativity, reduce stress, and make you feel happy.

Bottom line: If you want to be happy and solve all your problems, get away from your computer and go for a brisk hike or a slow jog—whatever it takes to get your heart rate up a little. Take your dog with you, and you'll both be happy.

(Note: With all the mountains here in Costa Rica, I don't have to hike very fast to get my heart rate up.)