Why Being an Underachiever Exerciser Made Me a Better Writer

{flickr photo by: danmachold}

I used to exercise 5-6 days a week. When I was in my early twenties and really into it, I would sometimes work out for twice a day 6-7 days a week. I was not an athlete. I did not aspire to be a fitness model. And surprisingly I was slim, but not at all muscular or athletic looking. Maybe I was a bit of addict and had too much time on my hands.

But recently, my exercise has tapered down a notch or two. Muscle aches and pains make overdoing it less attractive and so I stopped doing so much. But I discovered something interesting in the process. Exercising without any plan, motive or ambition can be quite thrilling and beneficial. {Not for my thighs, but my career (stick with me here).}

The last few days this week I’ve been using a treadmill, walking slow and at an interval. I’m barely out of breath (I still take classes and exercise 4 days a week to do that), but exerting just enough energy has given me the clearness of mind to think.

Solutions to problems in essays I’ve been stuck on, topics for magazine articles and blog ideas (it’s how I got the idea to write this post!) all seem to come to me effortlessly while I’m breezing through my exercise routine. I wish I had discovered it sooner. High impact, intense exercises are great for breaking a sweat, keeping in shape and releasing stress. But doing minimal exercises gives you enough energy to really focus and think.

The only problem?

Wish there was a way to download my thoughts while walking on a treadmill. Unfortunately, pausing or taking a chance writing while walking are my only options so far. And since I once lost it on an EFX machine in college, I’m not opting for the latter.