When do you get your best thoughts? Which time of the day do you gather your thoughts, and reflect on the happenings? Do you do your best thinking in solitude, in a quiet environment, or on the move?
I had some of my best thinking when I exercise, especially during my run. Although after a sustained period, it is quite easy to lapse into the ‘zone’. It would be less relevant to do deep thinking during a swim or bike-ride – at least, for safety reasons. It may also significantly affect your rhythm and technique; and almost riding into a stationary car parked by the roadside (which has nearly happened on a few occasions).
Apart from the exercise you will receive during your jog or run, clarity of thought usually occurs when you are fresh into your early strides. Fatigue can impair deeper thinking, other than finding ways to reduce the strain and discomfort. After a while, pain wins over logic and rationale and creative damage control kicks in, like the final sprint towards the finish line.
Go with the flow. I believe that there is a Zen-like quality to endurance sports, especially when your mind runs free and free-associates. Therefore, an easy pace across a cross-country terrain may release freedom of thought. I have enjoyed these thoughtful connections, and transferred them to writing a training manual, business plan or designing strategies. The stimuli offered by wind, sunlight, and the salt of the sea can arouse natural, mental alertness. Perhaps, that is why some of the famous writers do their best writing by the sea.
Run, and enjoy your runaway thoughts!
[This piece was triggered off by this evening’s run, where I also set a personal best timing.]
2 comments:
Congrats on PB, nice picture (IMWA i guess) too.
While i do not advocate losing focus while exercising, alot of flashby do occurs to me during training as well.
I prefer to be in a comfort zone when doing reflection, can be during a meal, showers, in the lift or even during a potty break!
Thank you, Matt. Yes, it was from IMWA 2006.
I agree that we can experience reflection, and even epiphanies during exercise, stillness or doing chores. Different strokes for different folks, they say. Random thoughts may pour in, however I think they may not be purely random as I believe that's how our brain sorts out confusion. Some of these moments can be quite inspirational, when we gain an idea or make a creative connection. Stay comfortable!
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