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By kilax, January 16, 2010 6:15 am

Have you ever felt like exercise helps you be more creative? Do you finish a run or a good strength workout with a million ideas in your head?

Well, I sure do! I sometimes think I should run with a recorder so I can talk out my thoughts and ideas. And I actually take a notepad with me when cycling so I can write things down!

My scribbly notes taken while running!

The Jan/Feb issue of Health had an article on the topic – “How Exercise Makes You More Creative.”* The article explains why this happens:

When you work out, your body flushes out cortisol, the hormone that helps trigger the “fight or flight” response when you’re stressed, and which also shuts down brain functions for creativity and problem-solving, explains Pierce J. Howard, PhD, managing director of research and development at the Center for Applied Cognitive Studies in Charlotte, North Carolina, and author of The Owner’s Manual for The Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research.

Meanwhile, your pituitary gland releases endorphins, which can produce the feel-good “runner’s high.” Exercise also promotes the growth of new nerve cells and synapses through elevating levels of neurotrophins (a chemical that fosters the growth of new nerve endings) and by increasing oxygen in the blood, which helps provide mental energy.

Pretty cool, right? Not only are we away from distractions when we work out, but our body is releasing endorphins to encourage good feelings and flushing out the cortisol that makes us feel stressed.

The article gives five tips to jump start your creativity:

Pick a low-concentration exercise that allows your mind to wander, such as brisk walking, swimming laps, hiking, or running. Sports, such as golf or tennis, or team activities, like soccer or basketball require too much strategizing or in-the-moment focus.

Exercise for a decent duration—at least 30 minutes.

Unless you and a partner plan to brainstorm on a shared project, exercise alone.

Bring a notepad or tape recorder so you can jot down brilliant ideas.

Get to work right after you return, while your creative juices are flowing. The shower can wait!

I can’t wait to see what creative ideas you come up with!

*Damn. I love it when magazines put their articles online so I can share them with you!

Comments (22)

By kilax, January 9, 2010 6:46 am

Do you ever catch signs that you are slowly falling into a funk?

Sometimes I catch signs such as:

• losing interest in things
• being extremely irritable
• feeling anti-social
• not wanting to take care of my body
• wanting to sleep all the time
• feeling defensive and cranky

The question is, once we’ve noticed the signs, how do we avoid falling into a full fledged funk? This is something I’ve been trying to figure out for eight years.

I’ve noticed that if I develop a plan of reaction to each sign of falling into a funk, it helps. It gives me tools to use when I realize I am not feeling like myself. Now, I completely prefer preventitive actions to reactive actions, but for now, this is the best I can do.

When I first notice the signs of falling into a funk, I tell myself to pause and look at the bigger picture. Is the reason for my funk right in front of me? Is there an issue I have been avoiding? If it’s situational, and I can nip my unease in the butt by addressing the issue, I try to. Otherwise, I address each sign one by one until I work my way out of the funk. Click “more” if you’d like to read examples of my plans of reaction.

What are your tips on how to avoid falling into a funk? Do you ever catch signs that you are? What are your signs?

Continue reading 'How to avoid falling into a funk'»

Comments (14)

By kilax, November 29, 2008 10:55 pm

It’s back.

That “I don’t care about me” feeling. That “I’m just going to eat whatever I want, who cares?” feeling.

I was afraid this would happen. I mentioned before that I had no idea what changed in me to make me WANT to be healthy. And not knowing what was allowing me to finally live a healthy life scared me that it wouldn’t last.

But I do know what is making me feel this way now. No, it is not Thanksgiving, or the stress of the holidays. It is guilt.

I feel guilty for making a few decisions* lately that benefit me and not others. I feel guilty for putting myself first.

Really.

I realized this the other day. I am punishing myself for feeling guilty. Punishing myself by EATING. How do you punish yourself with food? You eat and eat until you feel so stuffed that you are uncomfortable. A lot of you may have never done that, but I bet there are a few of you out there who know what I am talking about.

I’ve only had a few incidences when I’ve felt that super uncomfortable feeling, but it’s scary.

Guilt is not the only emotion that has driven me to overeat this past week. I’ve also been bored, frustrated and uncomfortable… and eating to cover those emotions. Guilt just happens to be the big one – the overriding emotion that is making me feel super stressed out. The feeling that is always in the back of my mind.

And yeah, yeah, yeah… I am happy to have “figured out” what is causing me to feel so out of control, but that is not stopping me from feeling out of control. Or stressed out. Or anxious, all the time.

I’m just worried. Worried about giving up. Worried that I am not meant to be healthy. Even writing that now, it isn’t logical, but that is how I feel. Like I don’t deserve to be healthy, and happy and guilt-free.

*I apologize for being so vague. I want to give more details, but not right now. I already feel uncomfortable enough, writing all this!

Comments (9)

By kilax, July 20, 2008 5:09 pm

I’m starting to think that maybe I am NOT stuck in a slump (mood wise), but am really just a kind of negative person. Because if I was just stuck in a slump, wouldn’t all of those negative thoughts have left my head by now?

At the beginning of each week, I have to repeat little mantras in my head: Smile, Don’t swear so much, Don’t say that out loud, Be nice, DON’T GOSSIP, Don’t judge people… I have to actually, mentally remind myself not to do these things.

And the thing is, I FEEL like I’m a really happy person. I like my work, I love my husband and family, I get to do a lot of fun activities… so, why why why do I have all these sarcastic, mean thoughts in my head?

I’m not sure how to get rid of them, but I am going to TRY not to say them out loud. Because I am embarrassing myself, and probably Steven as well.

And maybe this is just a human characteristic, but it’s one I don’t want.