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Running doesn’t just benefit your body—it creates a mental space free of distractions, offering a surprising boost to decision-making.
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Here some practical tips to maximize the reflective power of running.
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Physical activity stimulates the brain, enhancing mental clarity and decisiveness. Here’s how to make the most of it.
There are many reasons why people run. Some seek to improve their fitness, others to challenge the stopwatch, while still others simply want to enjoy the pleasure of moving outdoors. But there is one reason that is rarely considered: running helps you make decisions. It sounds like a paradox, but it is precisely at times when you feel uncertain, lost in a thousand thoughts, that going out for a run can become the way out. When your mind is trapped in a spiral of unanswered questions, a simple run can help you find some clarity, and perhaps solve the problem.
What happens in your mind when you run
Running is one of the activities that most successfully isolates the mind. When you start moving, each step seems to pull you away from the chaos of notifications, phone calls and distractions that bombard you daily. The brain, forced to focus on movement and breathing, has less energy to devote to the thousands of thoughts that usually nag at it.
This is the real “superpower” of running: creating a mental space in which thoughts naturally sort themselves out, as if pushed on a scale of priorities. And it is indeed so: it happens because the brain is energy-saving and processes only what is important, ignoring (enough of) the background noise. In fact, have you ever noticed how, after you run for a while, thoughts begin to slow down, become clearer? It is as if the body, engaged in physical activity, forces the brain to make a natural selection. Only the important thoughts stay; the others dissipate, fade away. And that’s when your mind is finally ready to decide.
How to further enhance “decision-making” power
If you want to make the most of running for decision making, you can apply some tips to accentuate the beneficial effect of running on your reasoning ability:
- Two-step listening: if you run listening to podcasts, try devoting the first half of the run to listening to one, choosing something that stimulates your mind with new ideas or knowledge. In the second half, switch to music. This allows you to reflect on what you just listened to, to process it in a natural and relaxed way.
- Don’t force the thought: going out running with the specific goal of finding a solution can be counterproductive. Rather, let thoughts emerge on their own. Start the run without pressure and let ideas develop freely.
- Choose familiar paths: if you are trying to focus on an important decision, choose a path you know well. You’ll avoid distractions and can focus only on your thoughts. The same goes for the type of training: if you want to think, don’t do work that is too strenuous (like strides or intervals) because you will get the opposite effect, which is not to think at all. Which can also be a desirable solution at times, we agree!
- Focus on breathing: deep, regular breathing helps stabilize the mind. Try to go at a steady pace, which helps your body find an inner calm, an ideal condition for clear thinking.
The science behind the decision-making power of race
Numerous scientific studies show that physical activity, and running in particular, stimulates the brain to release endorphins and other neurotransmitters that improve mood and reduce stress. When you run, your body enters a state of “flow,” a state of mind in which you are completely immersed in the activity and distractions are reduced. This state not only improves your mood, but also makes thinking clearer and straighter. When you run it also increases blood flow to the brain, that is, more oxygen and nutrients reach the brain cells. Improved circulation not only promotes concentration, but also contributes to greater creativity and problem-solving skills. In short, the brain becomes more efficient and organized, creating an ideal environment for thinking and making decisions.
When the need to run kicks in
It’s not just a matter of the physical. Often it is the mind itself that asks you to go out for a run. How many times have you found yourself thinking, “I need to clear my head, I’m going out for a run”? Maybe you didn’t have a specific decision to make, but simply felt the need to regain inner balance. Running thus becomes a kind of “active meditation” or “on the go” that puts your thoughts in order, decreases stress, and brings your mind to regain the clarity it needs to cope with everyday life.
Decide to run, to make better decisions
The next time you are faced with an important choice or have a skein of confusing thoughts in your head, try going for a run. No need to run miles or break records, just get out there and let your feet and the rhythm of your breath do the rest. And even if you don’t find the answer right away, at least you will have put some order in your mind, bringing you closer and closer to the right decision. Get your running shoes and try to see what happens-maybe you’ll find that in addition to training your physique, you’re also training your ability to choose.