Remembering Something New by Steph Beth Nickel

When you’re reading, do you ever stop, look back, and think, “Wow! That’s life-changing”?

That happened to me recently while I was reading Creating a Fit Life. In the introduction the author says, “We are doing too much sitting as creatives, and it’s actually not helping us be more creative. By living sedentary lifestyles, we are actually welcoming a plague called unhealthiness into our lives. It will make us unhappy, unfit, and overweight. Have you ever felt this way? If so, it can be changed. You can become a better you … It’s worth it because how can you create your best art when you aren’t your best in body or soul?”

As a former personal trainer, I know many reasons why it’s important to eat well and be active, but I had never equated creativity with fitness. And like many people, I’ve listened to those nagging voices in my head. “You don’t have time to exercise and prepare healthy meals.” “Besides, you don’t really want to.” “It’s selfish—ungodly even—to take time away from other projects to work out.”

Believe me, I know how lame these excuses are—especially when I see them in print, but there they are.

Those little voices in our head may be “little.” They may whisper. But boy, do they pack a wallop if we give them our attention!

How can we silence these voices? Let’s consider the following. (Call them truths, affirmations, pipe dreams. You choose.)

1. God made me to function most efficiently when I am healthy.

2. Becoming fit is not a selfish goal.

3. I can set a good example for others by tending to my health.

4. I will be more creative when I look after my physical well-being.

5. My productivity level will soar if I exercise and eat well.

6. I will actually get more done in less time if I take the time to tend to my health.

And why did I call today’s post “Remembering Something New”? Well, on some level I knew regular exercise and healthy eating would boost my creativity. This just may be the motivator I need to do better.

How about you? Have you ever considered that tending to your physical health could actually help you be more creative? What are you doing to avoid “the plague of unhealthiness”? How is it influencing your creativity and productivity?

One final word . . . I realize you may be dealing with a physical condition that cannot be overcome simply by exercising and eating well, but doing what we can in this area, almost always lessens the effects. NOTE: Everyone should seek a doctor’s advice before changing their exercise routine.