It’s not a secret that I think exercise is good for our wellbeing. Healthy bodies make life better. But exercising is also helpful for our brains.
Interestingly, I find that this works in two opposite ways. One of those ways is that exercise, especially cardio, allows us to zone out. The rhythm of walking or swimming or biking or running produces an almost meditative effect on our little monkey minds. Our thoughts (assuming that what we’re doing does not end up focusing on “OW!”) can wander around and we don’t get attached to them.
The other way is that exercise can compel us to focus on just one thing: what we are doing. This tends to happen when we’re doing something less familiar or something where a lot of things have to come together to make the motion work. All our worries about the past and all our compulsive plans for the future fall away leaving us with just where our bodies are in space right this minute. We have to be present.
Both of these can leave us, after our workout is done, feeling more creative and sharp.
Go play.
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