Thanks to the pandemic, I couldn't go to the gym from March to November last year, so I had to find other ways to exercise. I bought some dumbbells and elastic bands to work out at home, but I also discovered an easy exercise that helped my body and my writing: walking.
Before the pandemic, I walked mainly to get from point A to point B, e.g., from my house to the train station, from the train station to my work office. Since we started sheltering in place, the only places I needed to go was from the bedroom to the bathroom or from the living room to the kitchen. I also didn't have a treadmill or exercise bike at home, which meant I lacked any cardio exercise. One day, soon after the pandemic started, I decided to walk around my neighborhood. Then I did that the next day, taking a different route. Before I knew it, I had built a daily routine of walking for 30 to 40 minutes.
Not only has all the walking helped me keep my weight in check (an accomplishment in itself since I've been staying at home and snacking throughout the day), but it also helped rejuvenate my creativity. The ideas I got on my walks helped me finish Hopeless, which I might not have done as quickly otherwise.
The reason walking helps my creativity is because (1) it's solitary and (2) it requires little mental effort. I can let my mind wander as I walk, and unlike running on a treadmill or working out with weights, I don't have to think about the exercise itself. Have you ever found that ideas come to you in the shower? I believe it's for the same two reasons, but walking has the added advantage that you're getting exercise too!
If you're looking for an easy activity that's good for your body and your writing, try walking!
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