Simply put, you cannot optimize the brain without optimizing the body. There are many things that affect your brain, but the most important act you can do for your mental well being is simply workout. Yes, without a healthy level of fitness it is impossible to harness all the potential your brain has to offer. Countless studies link physical fitness with reduction in depression/anxiety, greater mental clarity, and enhanced memory function.
Without bogging you down with science, the basic concept is putting your body under physical stress increases blood flow to the brain and also triggers your endocrine system to release hormones to counteract the stress. The increase blood flow leads to augmentation of specific parts of the brain that handle memory and learning. The release in hormones is what a lot of individuals will describe as a runner’s high. There is no doubt that after a reasonably hard workout a person feels less stress, anxiety, and is overall happier. Notice I said the word “reasonably” because when you go too hard those positive benefits get greatly overshadowed by your body freaking out. That being said, the more you work out, the more you will understand the limits of your body. Push past your comfort zone for an extended period and you will reap all the previously mentioned benefits.
Now you must figure out how much you actually need to work out. There have been many studies done on this, but it seems that most signs point to about 150 minutes a week. That’s just five 30-minute workouts. The great thing is that you don’t have to do a crazy insane workout to find the benefit in your life. Even just a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day will do wonders. When it really comes down to it, as long as you are doing a safe activity, the goal is just to get your heart pumping a little harder.
All in all, implementing a fitness regimen will lead to better work and a better life. Leave a comment if you have any questions or you are always welcome to shoot me an email through the contact page. Below I have a couple credible links if you want to take a little bit deeper of a dive with this topic. Get out there and optimize your life!
With Big Love,
Robbie
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