Monday, October 10, 2011

Creative Minds Love Exercise


So, what's the connection with being fit and being creative? A lot of us  instinctively sense that moving our bodies around helps loosen the connections in our brains -- that and a few strong cups of java. 
But is there a physical side of creativity? Now, that's something to ponder during your next walk, run or bike ride. 

Haruki Murakami, a novelist, has a book,  What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2008) that reveals how running fuels his creative process. "Writing a long novel is like survival training" he writes. "Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity." 
Hmmm....Others pick up on this idea and run (sorry) with it, for instance, an  article in Fast Company  Upshot: If we exercise it improves our creativity so much that it more than pays for the time it takes us away from doing the task at hand. 

Welp, I suppose that's why I have to take a brisk walk with my dog whenever I  need an opening line for an article -- or for an idea to hang my next article on. And, you ask, what's the name of my idea-mongering pooch? "Einstein." Naturally.
cheers, 
Joan