Mental Clarity...A Not-So-Known Benefit of Exercise
If you are a business owner, an entrepreneur, have clients or patients, supervise employees, are an executive, hire and/or fire people, mental clarity is essential…all the time. If you are not sharp mentally, things will suffer. Decision making has to be crisp, creativity has to be on point, and your thinking needs to be clear and precise (sometimes at the drop of a hat). Busy, over-extended, sleep deprived individuals (a lot of successful professionals) suffer from what some call brain fog. Brain fog is a common symptom of mental fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Reducing brain fog = increased mental clarity.
Exercise has been shown to have numerous benefits for both the body and the brain. We always talk about how training on a regular basis improves your mood, increases your energy levels, reduces stress, helps build the body and fitness you want…but it also is second-to-none at improving cognitive function. One of the little-known and often overlooked benefits of training on a regular basis is improved mental clarity.
Regular exercise, conditioning to be more specific, improves mental clarity by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Increasing oxygen to the brain helps sharpen focus, increase alertness, and boost cognitive function. Conditioning (the physiological preparation of the body to help it cope with the demands of training – think Anatomical Adaptation cycle) causes the brain to go into overdrive and release adrenaline into the blood. When adrenaline and energy are delivered to the brain the result is enhanced memory. During conditioning, the body increases the size of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain involved in memory, learning and emotion. Its most important job is to hold short-term memories and transfer them to long-term storage in the brain. It also plays a role in emotional processing, including anxiety and avoidance behaviors.
So how exactly does it improve mental clarity?
It reduces brain fog. Exercise helps reduce feelings of brain fog and mental fatigue by stimulating the production of endorphins and other chemicals in the brain that promote mental clarity.
Improves decision making. Exercise can help improve decision making abilities by promoting better cognitive function which can lead to more effective problem solving and decision making.
Reduces stress and anxiety. Regular exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety, which can contribute to improved mental clarity. Exercise can promote the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, which can help reduce feelings of stress and promote mental calmness.
Increases productivity. Exercise helps increase productivity by improving mental clarity and reducing distractions. It also provides a mental break from work or other tasks, which can help improve focus and motivation.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.