3 Ways Physical Activity Boosts Your Creativity
Are you an artist who is experiencing a creative block? We can help! Have you ever noticed how inspiration and those “Eureka” moments typically come when you are on the go, or simply put physically active? It’s hard to find the flow when you are just sitting there and feeling stuck. When you are feeling stuck, and looking for a bit of inspiration, try exercising. Recent studies have shown that physical movement can stimulate your brain and unlock creative thinking – and it doesn’t matter what kind of creative problem you are trying to solve. Here are some ways you can use physical activity to get out of a creative block.
Exercise a Better Mindset
When you go outside for a jog or a bike ride, you have probably noticed that your mood improves and that you feel energized. Exercising boosts the production of endorphins, improves your blood flow and ensures oxygen get to every cell of your body. This will not only help you look better but also to think better. Exercise affects brain chemistry and neuroplasticity, and simply put, make it easier for you to overcome uncertainty and your creative issues. In order to defeat a creative block, choose an exercise you love to do. It can be a simple walk, a jog, rope jumping or something else. If you prefer, you can go to the gym. It’s important to exercise every day for at least 30 minutes in order to “reach a deeper state of mind.” If you haven’t exercised for a long time, we recommend setting aside 20 minutes before you start working to exercise. Try to incorporate this as a part of your daily routine.
Improvise your Next Move
If you are tired of your exercising routine and you feel like it doesn’t boost your creativity anymore, we suggest improvising a move in your workout routine or completely change it. For example, if you are used to weight training in the gym, hit the treadmill or go swimming. If you are also tired of cardio, you can try dancing or even golf. Studies show that creative energy starts to fade after 90 minutes. So, to refill your creative energy, instead of starring desperately through a window, simply take a break and do something that feels good. You can stretch your legs and visit a museum or a local art gallery to see what’s new in the art world. You never know when you may come across an exciting art sale. Also, contemplating art will definitely inspire you and make it easier for you to get back to work.
Imagine New Situations
If you feel bored while running around your neighborhood, imagine new situations while doing it. For example, if you are jogging, imagine someone is chasing you, and try to hide. If you prefer swimming, you can imagine there a shark in the water, etc. Regular exercise helps to increase the number of healthy young hippocampal cells. However, somehow stimulating your brain while exercising, you can improve the growth of these cells even faster. If you are out of ideas about envisioning the future, you can also think about the past when working out. Since the brain uses the same neural machinery to recall the past and think about the future, it will have the same effect and help you to boost your creativity.
