Exercise and (Mental) Energy
Hello everyone, a short post for today as I’m quite exhausted after my longest ride in years (my longest ever was 100km, years ago, though it feels like a different lifetime).
Exercise. The word inspires delight in some, dread in others. What is it about physical activity that creates such polarized reactions?
The rational part of our minds accepts that regular exercise is a necessity but in practise, we tend to push it to the absolute butt end of our priorities, typically below watching funny cat videos on TikTok.
The truth of the matter is we rarely acknowledge personal wellness.
We are so caught up in success measured in Job Titles, Promotions, Salaries & Bonuses etc that we have entirely forgotten any other measures (though the World is waking up to this finally!).
I watched countless friends burn the candle at both ends, working incredibly hard to make a name and future for themselves and ended up following the bandwagon.
Work? 12 hour days, 6 days a week were the norm. Get home and exercise? Absolutely not. Hit the bar if I had any energy left, if not, binge some Netflix, pass out, rinse and repeat.
Meals were courtesy of numerous delivery apps, with zero consideration for nutrition, just taste and ability to be eaten while taking a call/making a presentation.
Sounds familiar?
I made half hearted attempts at some exercise when the mood struck (and time permitted) and some part of me was screaming, scared that I couldn’t support my own bodyweight. Pullups were a thing of the past.
Squats and pushups were torture.
Instead of listening, I pushed harder. More work. More bar nights. Less sleep.
My memory (once a thing of pride) was becoming increasingly fuzzy. My temper was fraying.
This cycle continued for years till one of my best friends called me and said his doctor had told him “if you don’t change your life, you will die”.
From that day I’ve started, very very slowly, prioritizing my body and mind.
It’s a slow and thankless journey to start with, but when you achieve something (in my case, knock out a 36k cycle ride without dying), it’s
one of the greatest highs.
The most successful people in the world prioritize the greatest gift we are given, our bodies.
Mens sana in corpore sano | A healthy mind in a healthy body
The above phrase is said to have originated in The Satires of Juvenal written back in the 2nd century.
The Romans knew what they were doing.
Countless CEOs have been following rigorous workout routines.
Anna Wintour (named by Forbes in 2017 as the most powerful woman in media and entertainment) has been an avid tennis player for decades, starting the day with a vigorous game before going on to lead Vogue for 30 years.
Tim Cook (aka Tim Apple) starts every day with an hour in the gym, measured by his trusty Apple Watch.
Jeff Bezoz (no introduction needed) has been getting steadily more ripped as the years pass.
It’s no secret that regular exercise improves cognitive function (make brain work better), regulates mood (keep calm and keep scaling) and releases stress.
Then why do so many of us actively ignore this magic bullet we’ve been offered?
If I told you that by giving me one hour a day, I could
- Make you happy
- Improve your performance at your job
- Give you two redbulls worth of energy (any more and you would actually get wings)
- Help you live longer
Would you sign up or tell me to f**k off?
This article in Psychology today shares an interesting perspective.
Humans can’t plan for the future
A recurring theme in my articles revolves around the Future. As an angel investor, part of my mind lives in the future as opposed to the present.
This goes against how our brains are wired.
When do you think the last Famine was? Hint: It’s fairly recent
The answer is … it’s ongoing, in South Sudan and Somalia due to drought.
Yes, in 2021, while we are developing real flying cars, jetpacks, cloning, most of you are reading this on a portable device in your hand millions of times more powerful than the computer that sent man to the moon, at this very time there are human beings starving to death.
We are hardwired to think short term. Fight or Flight. Live or Die.
This tends to be why we are amazing at dealing with the short term, with little to no thought given to the future.
If I can leave you with one thought for today, it’s this.
Love the greatest gift you have, yourself.
