Exercise Reorganizes Brain & Boosts Willpower

We all know exercise is good for our bodies, but is it also good fro or brains? Just as exercise makes us happier as it increases dopamine levels , the happiness hormone, exercise actually increases mental alertness . Those who exercise outperform couch potatoes in tests that measure long term memory, reasoning, attention span, problem solving and many other intelligence tests.

Your brain will interpret exercise as stress, and as your heart pressure increases, your brain thinks it is fighting or fleeing from an enemy, So to protect yourself and your brain , your body releases a protein , BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor. This protein has a protective and a reparative element to your memory neurons and acts a a reset switch. This is why we feel at ease and that things are clear and eventually happier after exercising.

Another chemical released info your brain during and after exercise are endorphins. These endorphins help minimize the discomfort of exercise, block the feeling of pain and contribute to a feeling of euphoria.

When it comes to willpower, we know it is a reaction to an internal conflict. We know we shouldn’t do something, like have a cigarette, take a drink, or display anger , but we’d rather do it anyway. This is where willpower can be exercised and strengthened. Think of it as a muscle that can get exhausted by overuse. Researchers believe we can strengthen our willpower by training it. To do this we need to do the following

1. Manage Stress- Go for a walk, meditate, enjoy your hobby
2. Stick to a Plan- Tell yourself “I can”, rather than “I can’t “ Saying I Can’t creates a reminder of your limitations and is telling yourself you are doing something you don’t want to do.
3. Get Enough Sleep- This energizes your brain to manage stress better.
4. Get exercise and good nutrition - A simple more plant based diet gives more energy to the brain and increases your willpower.
5. Postpone things for later in order to gain focus on what’s important now- people who tell themselves,’ not now, maybe later’ are less tormented by the temptation they are trying to avoid.( Like that piece of chocolate cake)