One of the main effects from a good workout is the mental clarity in the hours afterwards. The relaxing state of mind the frees your mind of worries, that is partially responsible for feeling better from working out. But how exactly do we gain clarity and feel better through endorphin workouts?
Intense physical exercise causes your hypothalamus to increase production of endorphins. They, in turn, initiate a cascade of other happy hormone production. This, in addition to increased blood flow to the brain lead to improved mental clarity and you feeling better.
Brain Fog, Confusion and Negative Emotion
Whether you have had a stressful day, a poor night’s sleep, or it just isn’t your day. You may find it challenging to maintain your focus on a certain task you are performing, or you are having trouble to retrieve a memory. There are variety of things that can be negatively impacted when you are feeling this way. But rest assured. It is normal to feel down, confused and forgetful at times. It is easy to become overwhelmed in those situations and to just want the day to end.
How to Gain Clarity and Feel Better
- Analyze Your Recent Water and Food Intake. Could you be feeling this way because you are dehydrated, are lacking electrolytes, or you have not eaten anything of sufficient nutritious value in the recent hours?
- Write Down Everything That is on Your Mind. When you feel confused, it can help to just get everything out on paper. It will close open loops and the pressure of potentially forgetting something important starts to vanish slowly. If you think that your mental state can be caused by having too much on the go, have a look at how to write the ultimate to-do list (the 10-step framework)
- Perform a Quick, Intense Exercise Session. A quick, intense exercise session performed following the right framework can help to clear your brain fog, as well as make the thought processes appear more effortless in the short term.
Endorphins are one of your primary brain hormones responsible for feeling better after you exercise. They are triggered by your hypothalamus (one of your brain’s primary glands) in response to physical pain with the purpose of temporarily masking the discomfort. It does so for good reasons. Your hypothalamus believes that the physical pain experience must mean that your body is in danger, so you must need to flee the scene. Additionally, they can be the trigger for the cascade of other happy hormone production. This includes Amandamides that are produced by your endocannabinoid system, as well as Dopamine, which is considered your pleasure hormone. They have a similar effect as endorphins regarding a calmer mind and can reinforce a good state of mind.
In addition to to that, your heart pumps greater volumes of blood throughout your cardiovascular system. When more blood reaches the brain, it can perform its job better. If your workout is of sufficient intensity, this effect can stick around for a long time due to the effects of EPOC (excessive post exercise energy consumption).
Factors that Reinforce Clarity and a Positive Mood
Sometimes it is about paying attention to the little things that can have the greatest effect. Below you can find some of the main factors that reinforce the positive mental effects from your workout.
- Proper Workout Timing: Have you ever heard of your Biological Prime Time? It refers to the time of the day that you naturally have the most energy and focus. It is determined mainly by your genetics. For instance, if you are like most people, then you will have a period of low energy during the hours of 1-5pm. Plan your workout around your biological prime time for best effects on your mental health.
- Exercise: The Ideal Environment: Everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to their ideal exercise environment. However, some environments we can all agree on boost our workout satisfaction. Being exposed to your favorite music, performing you workout out in nature, surrounded by friends and family members typically reinforce the positive meal effects following exercise. If you exercise outside, try your best to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun to avoid skin damage (this includes individuals of all skin types).
- Staying Hydrated: Ensure that you take in your daily dose of water (as well as sufficient electrolytes). It can help to clear your brain fog and increase your energy levels drastically. Ensure to take in appropriate amounts of electrolytes in addition to your glass of water to avoid Hyponatremia. In addition to that, staying hydrated can promote healthier skin by moisturizing dry skin, make your cells work with higher efficiency and promote new cell growth. It may be all you need to get back to a state of mind of crystal clarity. Proper water intake is important for good overall health and can lead to less visits at the doctor’s office
Conclusion
If you are overwhelmed by negative emotions or you feel like a brain fog is coming up, try and go for a Mood-Boosting Endorphun Workout. It can make you feel better fast through increase production of your brain’s happy chemicals, as well as increased blood flow to the brain. In addition to your workout, ensure that you are properly hydrated and have had sufficient food intake. Write down repeating, overwhelming thoughts to decrease stress. You can reinforce the feelings of mental clarity and positive mood by working out during your biological prime time, as well as by surrounding yourself in the best workout environment.