Lessons From a Hut-to-Hut Trip in the Swiss Alps

An old editor of mine once told me, “creativity happens in motion.” He said it as a reminder, when I found myself in a rut, to get out and move. Movement could be almost anything – a run, a ride, or even just a drive – for as long as needed. When your body was moving, he’d say, so was your mind.

I already knew this to be true, I thought. I frequently come up with ideas on runs and leave voice memos to myself so that I don’t forget them by the time I get home. However, what took me longer to realize was that this motto is much more than just small ideas and singular moments. It’s an ethos to live by.

Near the end of this summer I was close to burnout. From the outside, I was living a dream life. I was shooting commercial work for international brands and writing for the largest publications in the world. But on the inside, I was deeply exhausted. I rarely found joy in my work. Somewhere along the way, I had lost the soul of it, that thing that gives us fire, ingenuity, and imagination.

I thought back to his words and realized that I needed to move. Not just for an hour or two, but for much longer.

So, I booked tickets to Switzerland. With the help of friends, I planned a hut-to-hut trip through the Swiss Alps. For a week I would not look at a screen, answer emails, or be inundated with notifications. I would run, sweat, jump in lakes, run more, and importantly, let the whims of the moment drive me. For this short window of time, I would let my brain wander freely.

It took a few days for me to let go. Flipping the switch doesn’t come instantly, as far as I’m concerned. On my second night, I arrived at Cabane de Chanrion, a quaint hut far in the mountains, without cell service or Wifi. Without a way to tap into the digital world, I was forced to just be. I shared a hot tea with a stranger, got to know the hut manager, and hiked up a nearby hill to watch the sunset.

That night, ideas started flowing. I started to ask myself big, real questions. I stopped wondering about the news of the day – how the market was doing, who was up in the polls, or if my dear Minnesota teams had finally made a good offseason addition. Instead, my mind focused on the people in my life that matter the most to me and how I can nurture those relationships. In short, the important things.