Hello Rockstar Nation!
Welcome to another wonderful month of health, wellness, and the best drug prescribed to the world to date Fitness! 🙂
These days we are looking forward to spring with excited anticipation, a positive outlook of more light, warm weather, and a rebirth of nature that can and always lifts us up if we get out there and take it!
Research shows that exercise significantly improves brain plasticity, which is the ability of our brain to change its structure and cognitive function [1].
What does that mean in real time, and in the keep it simple rule I love so much?
That when we exercise the brain receives more blood flow to support cognitive abilities such as memory and increased learning.
So hellzz yaa for fitness and getting some sweat flowing, right?!
The next question you probably have already thought of was, what about when I am sitting staring at the computer screen for a 2-hour meeting or class at school?
Not to worry Headliners and Rockstars I have got you!
Researchers from MIT looked at fatigue control during mentally demanding tasks and found that using brief, 6-7 min physical activity breaks, led to decreases in fatigue and increases in vigor, work engagement and productivity for at least 20 minutes following the break and presumably longer [2].
Rockstar Nation we can take advantage of this really important and cool science too.
Every 1-1.5 hours stand up, walk around your house for 5-10 minutes.
Want more!?! Take advantage of a nice sunny day and walk your local neighborhood block..
The key is to change the environment
Get your heart rate elevated a little to help blood flow to the brain! 🙂
Here is a little circuit I put together to help you if you are only allowed a couple minutes to break.
Keep it Simple. Keep it Safe. Keep it Fun Rockstars!
Jake Cheney
Rockstar Fitness, LLC.
References:
[1] JJ, Loehr JE. The positive impact of physical activity on cognition during adulthood: a review of underlying mechanisms, evidence and recommendations. Rev Neurosci (2011) 22:171–85. doi:10.1515/RNS.2011.017
[2] Blasche, Gerhard et al. “Comparison of rest-break interventions during a mentally demanding task.” Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress vol. 34,5 (2018): 629-638. doi:10.1002/smi.2830
Dan McGinley, Using Exercise to Improve Learning-
StrengthCoach.com
2021