Working out and getting outside can aid learning
At CUES we have great staff members with a variety of learning styles. For example, we have people who like visuals, people who appreciate perspectives from outside the industry to broaden their thinking, and people who need to do something hands-on with the material to really make it their own.
But despite their different styles, CUES staffers tend to agree that “taking a break” or “moving around” or “getting outside” helps them gain clarity, put their learning in perspective, and even think of new questions that help them dig deeper into what they have learned.
This anecdotal finding in our office is supported by research that finds physical exercise after learning helps with retention—and spending time in nature helps sharpen our minds. A study published July 11 in the journal Current Biology finds exercising four hours after learning a task can improve memory and help people retain information better. And research by Harvard physician Eva M. Selhub, co-author of Your Brain on Nature, has found that time outdoors results in increased concentration, improved memory, and greater creativity and productivity.
CUES has two great events coming up that offer opportunities for exercise and time outside as ways participants can boost their learning. From Aug. 28-31, CUES will host Execu/Net™ in Fish Camp, Calif., near Yosemite. The marketing copy on our website for this event boasts an “innovative agenda and spectacular location.” In light of the research, this means attendees will not only be exposed to great new ideas (like thriving in a world of digital disruption), but also have an opportunity to make them stick or get new perspective on them when they go outside to hike or fish.
The same is true for Execu/Summit, slated for March 5-10, in Snowmass Village, Colo. This meeting’s unique schedule bookends educational sessions around mid-day opportunities to ski or enjoy other outdoor activities in the mountains. When attendees go outside, they’ll be integrating what they’re learning about leadership behaviors that can increase organizational performance; the potential for proactive strategic mergers; and aligning the board and executives for better success.
Not every CUES event offers these built-in opportunities to integrate learning through exercise and time in nature. But each one does strive to meet the needs of a variety of learners. If you’re someone who appreciates great learning with being time efficient, for example, be sure to track the news of our new Payments University, which will combine live-taught online courses with classroom sessions led by world-class instructors. And stay tuned as CUES continues to evolve its offerings. We’re sure you’ll find one or several to be just right for you.
