Real Software Development Is When You Go for a Walk

We often imagine software development as hours of typing, stacks of open browser tabs, and solving bugs with late-night coffee. And while those things do happen… real breakthroughs often occur away from the keyboard.

Sometimes, the most productive thing a developer can do is step away.

I’ve found that taking a walk—yes, literally getting up and walking away from the problem—has consistently helped me think through the toughest challenges. When you’re stuck on a bug, trying to design a system, or feeling mentally cluttered, your brain keeps working in the background. You just need to get out of its way.

There’s something about walking—especially without your phone—that activates a kind of mental defragmentation. Ideas reorder themselves. The obvious solution becomes obvious. And when you return to your desk, you see the problem differently.

This is a reminder to myself and any other devs out there:

• The code isn’t always written with your fingers.

• Breakthroughs often happen when you’re not trying so hard.

• Motion creates clarity.

Next time you hit a wall, don’t just “try harder.” Go outside. Go for a walk. Let your mind breathe.

That’s real software development.