How To Use Running To Enhance Your Writing Practice
Three ways running can unlock your writing game
Having a physical practice significantly enhances your creative life.
Chances are that your favorite writer, author, photographer all got their best inspirations through some form of movement. And that form of movement evolved into more of a practice for them in order to tap into a more creative state.
One of my favorite authors is Ryan Holiday who writes extensively around the philosophies of stoicism. Some of his best selling books were written “in the pool” or “on the trails” during a run, as he says.
Any serious creative knows exactly what he means. The ideas and storylines he was able to craft came to him during his physical practice of swimming and running.
A Source for Ideas
Inspiration and ideas to write about come from many places.
Having a physical practice helps foster more creativity.
That’s because our minds work best in a less anxious state. When our bodies are in motion, it’s virtually impossible to be full of that resistive angst that so often can block the juices of creativity from flowing.
When we move, our minds wander at ease and without pressure, promoting the connecting of ideas, experiences, subjects or things we’ve learned.
For me, that form of activity happens to be running. Through running, my subconscious has an easier time of crafting stories from ideas. I can then solidify my thoughts and ideas and work through the mechanics of crafting a good story.
Here are three ways that running can help to enhance your writing:
1.) Gets you up and *preferably* outdoors
There’s something about movement in nature that’s just magic.
It breaks up the monotony of the day.
It relieves anxiety and keeps you grounded.
It even does wonders for your productivity and focus.
When it comes to a writing practice, I’ve found that there is only so long I can sit down in a focused state before I reach a point of diminishing returns.
Studies have shown that our brains often work best in 90min increments. As such, a physical practice like going for a swim or heading out for a run will help clear your head and keep your center.
Bonus points for getting outside and doing it in nature for an enhanced and refreshing experience.
The sense of satisfaction and accomplishment you get from physical exertion is magnified in nature and serves as a counterbalance to the mercurial muses of the creative pursuit.
In my experience, I’ve found that running is highly reliable because you can choose how hard you go on any given day. It helps keep you sane. And although it can hurt sometimes, you always feel good after.
2.) Resets energy levels and increases blood flow to the brain
I don’t know how many times where I was feeling low energy and thought I needed a nap, but instead headed out for a run only to realize it completely reenergized my day.
It’s that unbridled, invigorating freedom and energy that running gives you to further generate creativity and focus. It’s through this newfound energy that I’ve untied many pesky literary knots and brewed up lots of fresh ideas for my stories while running.
I’ve come up with plotlines, titles, dialogue, even marketing strategies — ideas and angles that might not have occurred to me if I had stayed home and remained inactive.
When I’m done, I’m often racing home to jot down ideas or aggressively plugging them into a notes app on my phone.
Over time, you’ll realize that running can actually increase your overall work capacity, allowing you to write more productively in a focused state for longer periods of time.
3.) Improves critical thinking skills
Engaging in some form of physical activity also enhances memory and encourages critical thinking.
Thinking critically about your work is a form of reflection for self-improvement.
When you are in a proper head space that comes with a physical practice like running, you are able to better analyze and critique your writing and learn the strengths and weaknesses of your writing craft.
You learn how to process an opinion or views around a certain subject matter or idea you are writing about.
And you are able to tie together thought-provoking ideas more seamlessly by identifying similarities or differences across a range of ideas or subject matter.
The critical analysis of content helps you to hone your craft and message. This gives you the tools to write more clearly and concisely, share a coherent message, and incorporate your perspective into your work.
In closing
Running has become a keystone habit that brings a multitude of positive changes to my creative life.
Having a physical practice is a cornerstone in the development of any creative outlet, serving as both inspiration and instruction.
In essence, a physical practice like running fosters creativity by bringing forth inspiration, cultivating a clear perspective and helps to mold your ideas into an actual body of work through reflection, critical thinking, and enhancing the connecting of ideas.
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