I was a hypocrite.

Every day at work I would tell my patients that they should exercise. I would rattle off the standard recommendation of "30 minutes a day, five times a week."

And then I'd come home from a long day exhausted.

I knew I should get the 30 minutes in.

But between being tired, the things I had to do as a responsible adult, and the thing I wanted to do (writing my novel) I just couldn't find the time or the energy.

I put my creative pursuit before my physical one.

But by not moving, I was becoming stuck.

Physically and mentally. My fatigue increased. After work, all I wanted was to dive into bed and binge Netflix.

I couldn't write.

I couldn't focus or think or create. My sedentary body was stagnating my mind. Something had to change.

And thankfully it did.

I started walking with my husband every day after dinner. At first, it didn't seem like much, but after nearly two months, I've noticed things:

I feel less anxious
I feel less tired
I feel more energized
I am more creative.

After a walk or a run (especially if it happens after an outlining or brainstorming session) my brain is fired up, coming up with scenarios and finding connections that previously eluded me.

The words flowed easily. Writing no longer felt like a chore.

And surprisingly, neither did exercising.

I shouldn't be surprised. This is backed by science. Movements like walking or running increase blood flow to the hippocampus, a part of the brain crucial for memory, spatial awareness, reconstruction of past events, and construction of future events, all elements crucial to creativity and writing.

And endorphin (the feel-good hormone) release is well documented with exercise.

I was motivated to start walking because of my desire to be creative more than to be healthy.

It's not that health wasn't important to me.

It was just something I took for granted because I already had it. And that got me thinking: when I talk about exercise as a physician, I focus on the physical benefits, with the mental and creative benefits underplayed or unmentioned.

So, even if running a marathon or getting a beach body isn't important to you, even if you have perfect blood pressure, movement will benefit you! Physically, mentally, emotionally, and dare I say spiritually.

If as a fellow writer, artist, or content creator you are looking for ways to boost your creativity, add a walk or run to your routine.

How Going for a Walk helped my Writing: The Understated Benefits of Exercise for Creatives.

What will you write today?