This is a guest post by Margaret Floyd, BA Hons, NTP, HHC, Founder and Owner of Eat Naked
How to Exercise Your Creativity
We all know that exercise is important, and that a good mix of cardio, strength training and flexibility is optimal for a balanced exercise program. Would you be surprised if I told you that endurance exercise in particular is important for you as an actor?
It turns out that aerobic exercise is especially beneficial for exercising the creative part of our mind. The left side of your brain is the logical, organized, problem solving part of your brain. The right side of your brain is the center of creativity and intuition. When you exercise slowly but for longer periods of time, a long slow run for example, you allow your left brain to turn off and your right brain free reign to roam.
Let me give you an example.
This year I set two major goals for myself: one creative and one physical. The creative goal is to write a book. The physical goal is to run the marathon I’ve been talking about running for years. Both ambitious goals. Am I setting myself up for failure or is there a logic to this madness?
Research has shown that your creative potential is higher after moderate exercise, in particular low level endurance activity in which your mind can wander. In a study done at Rhodes Island University in 2005, the creativity of test subjects was examined without and after moderate aerobic exercise. Those who performed the exercise showed significant increase in their creative state.
I wasn’t aware of this bonus when I set my goals. As I incorporated my long runs into my training program – runs where I’m going much more slowly than my usual pace and for significantly longer distances – I found that my mind wandered and got particularly creative. Now, I use my runs as fabulous tools to combat any moments of writers block.
And let’s not forget the rush of endorphins that result from long distance aerobic activity as well. That “runner’s high” you might have heard of that’s the result of hormone-like substances produced in the brain that function as the body’s own natural pain-killers and can lead to feelings of euphoria. Euphoria is a fast track to creativity, wouldn’t you say?
So if you’re having trouble getting inspired, or you feel stumped on how to approach your character or your just stressed out about the fact that you have one night to turn a mass of words into something meaningful why not get yourself out the door. Go do some nice, easy, long endurance exercise: a long bike ride, a hike, a long slow run, or whatever your exercise of choice may be.
Not only will you be exercising your body, but also the creative part of your mind.