Get on your walking boots for the Rambling challenge 2021
Last autumn the Countryside Access Team and many others in Monmouthshire CC, undertook sponsored walks to raise money for BBC children in need. This year, on Friday 8th October, the Countryside Access Team are undertaking their team meeting, whilst walking through Castle Meadows and along the canal. Usually the team has its meetings on Microsoft Teams, but this time we are going to walk and talk. At the end we shall all generate some money in aid of Children In Need. We are looking forward to getting some fresh air, enjoying the autumn colours and seeing each other “in real life” again!
We’re challenging other teams in Monmouthshire to do the same, so get out and have one of your meetings whilst walking!!! … Who can find the best view, picnic spot or project to visit? Go that extra mile, put your boots on to energise your team and help children in the UK. Don’t forget to tag us in @MonLifeCountryside or @MonLife on Facebook and @MonCountryside or @MonLifeOfficial on Twitter. We’d love to see how you got on!
Why Walking Meetings?
“All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Nothing will feel better than venturing out after an intensely focused morning at a desk. Walk and talk with your team members about some ideas they have for new or existing projects. We have all had over a year now of Teams meetings. Take advantage of our beautiful landscape and getting outside can clear your head. Get some exercise and engage in our favourite type of discussion – the walking meeting. Walking meetings are particularly useful when decision making, team building and bonding are of critical importance. They also enhance creative thinking. The casual nature of walking and talking helps people let their guard down and ideas held back on Teams come spilling out. A study published in the European Journal of Development Psychology found both children and adults performed a memory exercise better while walking than sitting.
“The greatest mental benefits of walking are explained not by what it is, but by what it isn’t. When you go outside, you cease what you are doing, and stopping trying to achieve something is often key to achieving it…And in some hard-to-specify way, even the distractions of walking – traffic noise, bird song, people – seem to help”.
Oliver Burkeman
We all spend too much time seated at our desks. Regular movement is essential to our well-being. One study has found that 12 minutes of walking can increase happiness, vigour and attentiveness significantly more than time spent sitting.
Tips for organising a walking meeting:
Though walking meetings are fairly self-explanatory, the following preparations can make them more fruitful:
– Those with, or who live with anyone who has Coronavirus symptoms, should stay at home.
– Let everyone know in advance where to meet, how long you will be outside and to wear suitable clothing.
– Make sure you choose a venue which you can all easily get to.
– Plan your route. Choose a venue where you can walk in a circuit to get back to the start and is not too strenuous or adventurous. A simple walk around a park, wood or greenspace is good for walking/talking meetings.
– Check what the weather will be like.
– Wear appropriate warm clothing and shoes.
– Bring snacks, a flask of coffee or other drink!
– Take regular stops so you can as a group discuss items together.
– Walk slowly, at a pace suitable for all and encourage everyone else in team to do the same.
– Breath and encourage mindfulness.
– Review relevant documents: know your meetings objectives and glance over supporting information beforehand. Don’t forget to share any necessary information with participants.
– Use your smart phone to take voice notes and take follow up notes.
– Take a photo to use at your next Teams meeting.
– Use the environment to illustrate points, have a laugh and be proud that you did it together as a team.