Stuck on a Project? How a Change of Workspace Can Help
When ideas stall, a different room, a walk or a coworking day can help. Here is what research says and a simple way to try it.
In this article
- Why can a new workspace help when ideas stall?
- Does walking help you come up with ideas?
- How much background noise is good for creative work?
- Where can you work when you need a fresh setting?
- How do you make a change of scene work in practice?
- Small changes you can try today
- How do you know whether it worked?
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When you are stuck on a creative task, changing where you work can help, but it works best when you pair it with a clear purpose. Move for the open-ended part of the job, such as brainstorming or outlining, and go back to your usual desk to finish. Below is what research supports, what it does not, and a simple way to test it for yourself.
Why can a new workspace help when ideas stall?
A desk you use every day becomes tied to habits. You open the same tabs, follow the same thought patterns and answer the same notifications. A different setting interrupts that loop, and that alone can make a problem look different.
It is worth being honest about the limits. A new room will not rescue a task you have not defined. If the brief is vague, a prettier cafe will give you a prettier version of the same blank page. Decide what you want out of the session before you move.
Does walking help you come up with ideas?
There is decent evidence that it does. In experiments reported by Stanford's Graduate School of Education, people who walked generated more creative responses on idea tasks than people who sat. The benefit appeared whether they walked on a treadmill facing a wall or outdoors, and it carried over for a short time afterward.
The same research found walking helped open-ended thinking, not tasks with a single correct answer. So walk when you need options, not when you are checking a spreadsheet.
A simple walking routine for remote workers
- Write the question you want to solve on a sticky note before you leave.
- Walk for 10 to 15 minutes without a podcast, so your mind is free to wander.
- Jot down whatever comes up as soon as you sit down again, even if it seems half-formed.
How much background noise is good for creative work?
Quiet is not always best. A University of Illinois study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that moderate ambient noise, around 70 decibels, improved performance on creative tasks compared with a low level of 50 decibels. A high level of 85 decibels made results worse.
In practice, a lively cafe or a busy coworking lounge may suit brainstorming, while a loud space does not suit anyone. For editing, budgeting or anything detailed, a quiet corner or headphones are the safer choice.
Where can you work when you need a fresh setting?
You do not need a plane ticket. Pick from the options that fit your schedule and budget:
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Coworking day pass | Brainstorming, meeting other people, a clear work mindset | Cost adds up if you go often |
| Cafe or library | Outlining, reading, light writing | Unreliable Wi-Fi, no privacy for calls |
| Park or shared outdoor area | Planning and thinking time away from a screen | Weather, glare, nowhere to charge |
| A different room at home | Free, quick change | Household distractions |
If you are weighing a coworking space for this, our piece on using coworking spaces to host successful workshops shows how shared rooms can support group idea sessions, not just solo desk work.
How do you make a change of scene work in practice?
Plan the connection first
Before heading to a cafe or a coworking space, check that you can get online. Our guide to reliable internet for remote workers covers backups so a dropped connection does not end the session.
Pack light and keep it consistent
A small, ready-to-go kit makes moving easy. If you want to build one, see the portable home office kit article for ideas on what to carry.
Match the task to the place
- Brainstorming: a moderately busy space or a walk.
- Drafting: somewhere comfortable with few interruptions.
- Editing and admin: your regular desk, which is already set up for focus.
Small changes you can try today
If you cannot leave the house, try one of these smaller shifts:
- Take your laptop to a different room for one hour.
- Stand at a counter for the first draft of a list.
- Rearrange your desk or add a plant to change what you see.
- Walk a different route on your lunch break and think about one question only.
None of these is a proven cure, and some people will find their usual desk works better. The point is to run a small experiment rather than wait for inspiration.
How do you know whether it worked?
Keep a simple log for two weeks. After each session, write down where you worked, what you were doing and how many usable ideas or pages you ended with. Patterns appear quickly: you may find that walks help you start, while a coworking space helps you finish.
If you try several changes and still feel stuck, the problem may be something else, such as tiredness, unclear goals or too many projects at once. Resting, narrowing the brief or asking a colleague for a second view will often do more than another new location. For small gadgets that make a mobile setup easier, you can browse Mavigadget.
Frequently asked questions
Does working from a new place really make you more creative?
Should I walk before or during a creative task?
Is a noisy coffee shop better than a quiet office for creative work?
How often should I change where I work?
Sources and further reading
- Stanford's Graduate School of Education ed.stanford.edu
- University of Illinois study in the Journal of Consumer Research experts.illinois.edu
