The Mind- Exercise Relationship

read on: themovementmemo.com

read time: 5 minutes 

Welcome to The Movement Memo, a bi-weekly newsletter where I share actionable tips to help you live your best day ever, every day.

Today's Programming 

• Movement: 2 part strength endurance 

• Quote: Gilbert on a creative pursuit  

• Lesson: How exercise boosts creativity

• Optimization:

Today's Movement 

Part A: Complete as a 20-minute EMOM:

• Build to a 1 rep max clean + front squat

Part B: Complete for time:

• 3, 6, 9, 12 clean and jerks + toes-to-bar (135 lbs/ 95 lbs.)  

Today's Quote

99.9% of people consume. They don’t create.

When we are children we are curious. We must have creativity to learn how the world works.

Over time we lose our ability to play. We intuitively learn to follow a similar path. And we stop creating. 

But my life changed when I made movement a part of my daily life. During training sessions, I refound creativity that I hadn’t touched since I was a child. Once I started creating doors began to open. 

Today's Lesson Learned

Creativity lives in movement, not the mind.

Whenever I feel unfocused or stuck on a particular issue, I do some kind of intense physical workout. It could mean training CrossFit or a mountain bike ride with one rap song playing on repeat. My only desire is to be fully present in the moment, which doesn’t happen often. Moving heavy weight with an elevated heart rate or racing down a single-track trail in Colorado forces my mind into a state where it can not wander. At the same time, it allows me to tap into an area of my brain that I cannot access any other way.

Never does staring at my computer longer solve the problem. All of my ideas come from movement. 

My most innovative ideas come when running along the ocean, riding in the mountains, and spending time with an elevated heart rate in nature.

I need space and minimal distractions to put the pieces together on inspiration.

Rarely can we connect the dots in real time. 99% of the time when we are struggling, when we are failing, and when we are frustrated we do not need to work harder.

What we need is to change our perspective, mix up our environment, and allow our subconscious mind to take over.

The easiest way (for me) to accomplish this is movement.

When we engage in physical activities, our conscious mind focuses on the task at hand, whether it's lifting weights, running, or cycling. This shift allows the subconscious mind to take the stage, processing thoughts and ideas in the background without the interference of conscious overthinking.

When we become fully immersed and lose track of time we become highly conducive to creativity and problem-solving, as it allows our subconscious mind to work more freely and effectively.

Studies have shown that physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, enhancing overall brain function. 

• Exercise releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with improved mood and cognitive function. These chemicals can help reduce mental blocks and encourage a more fluid thought process.

• This boost in brain activity can help the subconscious mind work more efficiently, leading to creative breakthroughs and problem-solving.

Our subconscious mind is a powerful tool that works even when we're not actively thinking about a problem. 

Exercise provides the perfect environment for this hidden part of our brain to thrive, often leading to unexpected and valuable insights. 

By incorporating regular physical activity into your routine, you can tap into the creative and problem-solving power of your subconscious mind, achieving breakthroughs that might otherwise remain out of reach.

And this is why I prioritize exercise; it allows me to multi-task without multi-tasking.  

Today's Optimization

The SISU Sauna has become the place where I take many of my business meetings today. I look forward to being able to share my passion for sauna therapy with others and expose them to the healing power of heat. Typically, I perform 3 rounds of 20 minutes in the SISU Sauna at 200’F directly into 3 minutes in the Ice Barrel at 37’F.

The SISU Sauna is paired HUUM Hive Heaters, the best heaters on the market, and is Bluetooth compatible. This makes it so that I can turn on my SISU Sauna from anywhere with my phone, and I use this most afternoons on my mountain bike ride on Green Mountain! Today SISU Sauna is offering Movement Memo subscribers a deal: $500 off their sauna using code “ehinman” at checkout

Know friends, training partners, or co-workers who would take value from weekly tips on a healthier lifestyle, enhanced accountability, and improved routines? Thanks for sharing!

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU? Sign up here!

QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? Reply to this email!

Publisher: Eric Hinman

Editor-in-chief: Bobby Ryan