“Picking up trash is a way to clean out my mind and look closely at nature.” 🌿
Hayao Miyazaki (1941–), the legendary anime director behind masterworks such as ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’, ‘My Neighbor Totoro’, ‘Spirited Away’, and ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, won an Academy Honorary Award and Venice Golden Lion to become an icon of global animation history. The creative heart of Studio Ghibli has adhered to a unique daily morning routine for decades: wearing an apron and strolling along neighborhood riverbanks and footpaths to pick up discarded trash and cans. What is the secret behind why this animation master collects litter with his own hands every morning?
For Miyazaki, this was far more than civic service or environmental cleanup. It served as an essential warm-up routine while commuting to his studio at dawn, enabling him to loosen his physical body and keenly observe natural elements. Rain or shine, carrying a bag and tongs while wandering along local streams, his iconic image has been documented in numerous interviews. This ritual was his most sacred practice for entering deep focus. Simple manual labor and physical tidying eased brain tension and acted as a catalyst connecting creative ideas.
In this post, we explore the scientific principles behind Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘River Cleanup Walk’ and propose a 3-step routine for modern creatives to quiet morning mental overactivity and unlock heightened perception.
Historical & Academic Evidence
This content is based on Historical Critical Biography and Interview Records of Hayao Miyazaki & Cognitive Neuroscience Research.
BuildSelf
Inspired by historical greats? Make it your daily habit!
1. Creative Refresh Provided to the Brain by Altruistic Walking
The act of taking a light walk while tidying the surrounding environment gently activates the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN). This network operates when the brain rests comfortably away from goal-directed cognitive tasks, connecting scattered ideas across the brain to trigger fresh intuitions. Additionally, manual cleanup work stimulates morning serotonin release, elevating mood and mental clarity.
2. 3-Step Practical Routine for Modern Professionals
Designate a Light Morning Walking Route Before Work
Select a tree-lined walking path or small park trail that you can comfortably complete in 15–20 minutes every morning before starting work.
Tidy and Collect Small Litter During the Walk
Keep your smartphone in your pocket and observe your surroundings. Gently pick up visible cans or discarded paper litter to tidy the immediate environment.
Enter Primary Creative Tasks with a Cleared Brain
Return home from the walk and leverage the relaxed, clear frontal lobe state charged with serotonin to immediately dive into your first creative planning task.
3. Precautions and Tips
If you check your smartphone or get absorbed in complex thoughts during the walk, your brain cannot reach the relaxing DMN state. Disconnecting from electronic devices consciously, appreciating the surrounding natural environment, and focusing strictly on tidying the physical objects right before you are the keys to maximizing the benefits of this routine.
📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Must I pick up trash, or is simply walking okay? ▼
Simply walking helps activate the DMN, but combining altruistic action like picking up litter with the physical act of 'environmental tidying' releases higher levels of dopamine and serotonin, inducing a noticeably clearer mental state.
