Book Notes: “The Extended Mind”

How we move our bodies also affects how we think. As Paul puts it, “thinking while moving brings the full range of our faculties into play.” Alas, much of our built world assumes we think best when we’re sitting still. We sit to work, to learn, to eat, etc. We’d think better in environments that engage more of the body, and by taking active breaks (e.g., going for a walk) during the workday.

Natural environments replenish our cognitive capacities. Even though humans evolved in nature, today we only spend around 7% of our time in natural environments.