Boosting Imagination by Embracing Physical Agility
Hey! ever wondered about the connection between your physique and creativity? I sure have, especially when it comes to meeting my writing goals. With some lofty targets set for this month, I figureI might as well give myself every advantage possible.
Remember National Novel Writing Month last year? I was pushing hard to monitor and improve my eating habits, and it seemed like those efforts correlated with my improved creativity. So, I thought, why not give this another shot?
Recently, I attended a panel at the Life, Universe, and Everything Writing Conference that discussed the relationship between physical health and creative energy. They mentioned that some of the most brilliant minds in history were physically active, like Plato, who surprisingly was a pro wrestler. The panelist argued that this wasn't a coincidence—these intelligent individuals had enhanced creative energy due to their good health. And it makes sense, doesn't it? Physical activity boosts connections between neurons and increases oxygen intake to the brain, which could help spur creativity.
On those days when I've felt stuck on a writing problem, I've often had breakthroughs during a run or a walk around the block. This observation piqued my interest in exploring the link between physical health and creativity, and I decided to approach it from a few angles during this experiment.
I'm going to track what I eat daily using an app, take note of the days I engage in physical activity, whether it's a walk, a run, or a yoga session at home, and jot down my writing sessions each day. I'll use all this data to see how my body's treatment, through food and physical activity, impacts my writing sessions over the course of a month.
I'll also post updates on social media once or twice a week to keep myself accountable and share my progress. At the end of the month, I'll write a follow-up post summarizing my findings.
My hope is to gain a better understanding of how my physical health affects my ability to write during this experiment. Quarantine has made many of us lazy, so I'm looking for something more substantial to motivate me than just trying to lose weight. Maybe I'll find better motivation to take care of my body by the end of this experiment.
Another benefit I'm hoping for is a boost in creativity. I'm currently in a critical place with my writing—editing one project and starting another—and could use a leg up in terms of productivity. Ideally, I'd like to know that all I need to do to be at my top performance is take care of my body, and the rest will follow.
Lastly, I'm excited to see what other benefits come from this experiment, particularly in the creative space. I have no expectations here, but I'm looking forward to seeing what's possible. So, join me on this journey to learn more about how taking care of your body can boost your creativity. Sound exciting? What do you do to hype up your creativity already? Share any tips or ideas you'd like to test out below!
[1] Martens, R. J. M., & Stothart, D. (2014). Creativity and brain plasticity: Perspectives on facilitating creative cognition. PLOS One, 9(9), e106710.
[2] Brown, A. L., Greenough, W. T., & Volk, M. C. (2010). Exercise effects on human brain and behavior: a review of human findings and proposed mechanisms. Progress in brain research, 187, 177-189.
In light of my ongoing experiment to explore the connection between physical health and creativity, I'm eager to integrate various aspects of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and lifestyle to potentially enhance my novel writing. I will be tracking my eating habits, physical activities, and writing sessions to observe their impact on my creativity over the course of a month. Furthermore, I'm apprehensive that this experiment could lead to unexpected benefits in the creative space, beyond just boosting creativity.
