A large
body of research now connects exercise to improvements in mood, creativity and
productivity. Research also proves that vigorous exercise increases creativity and
even moderate exercise yields a significant increase. Professor McKenna from
Leeds Metropolitan University revealed that on the day employees exercise,
their mood and work performance were substantially improved. What’s more, daily
aerobic exercise can actually grow new brain cells according to Kramer, a
psychologist at the University of Illinois.
The key is
to make exercise fun and cultivate a daily practice. Get off the treadmill,
steppers, cyclers and rowers and find activities you love doing and do them. For
entrepreneurs and creators, exercise is a powerful tool that will transform fear
and anxiety into creative fuel. Dr. Ratey noted in his book Spark: The
Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain that exercise has a
profound effect on the brain. The brain
literally rewires itself with exercise. He states that exercise affects our
ability to think, create, solve, as well as our ability to lean into
uncertainty, risk and judgment.
So, why do
people resist exercise? We are trained to group people into various categories such as artists, jocks etc., but it’s those artists who need exercise the most to
create their masterpieces. Thus, we should approach movement as creative
inspiration and shift our mindset away from the look and feel better
perspective associated with exercise. We have known for a long time that
exercise relieves stress and anxiety, but this new research shows us that a
life with no exercise is not an option. I think I’ll go play some flyball right
now!
With lovingkindness,
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