Movement Sharpens Reality

Kilometre Zero Running Club

If your daily activities demand good judgment or require you to evaluate reality, then movement is key. Since we all act in the world every day, it applies to everyone. Of course, for some a big salary might depend on it, while for others it’s just about not hitting their little toe against the sofa over and over again. Below, I want to share a couple of observations that make me believe that.

• The school years during which my mental performance was at its best, were the years when I was exercising regularly with my handball team. Even during the times when I was physically exhausted, I still had a very clear mind.

• The COVID-19 period led to fewer activities and less movement in my life. Looking back, it caused a slight disconnect from reality, and I actually believe it did so for a lot of people. This could be observed in the markets and the irrational predictions that were made about the future, reflected in company valuations.

• When I start my day with exercise, I feel that I can more intuitively distinguish between what’s real, the stories I tell myself or that others tell themselves, and fears and worries. I make fewer mistakes. It makes things easier and leads to better judgment and better actions.

• I rarely come across people who barely move and still demonstrate good judgment, no matter the situation they find themselves in.

• Movement between sessions of challenging mental work helps me come back fresh, with more clarity.

• I can’t help but be impressed by the clarity of thought some athletes show after their races. I noticed this last winter when I watched biathlon racing and listened to the post-race interviews. There is a sense of real experience in their words. The opposite often occurs when listening to interviews or talk shows featuring some politicians, for example.

An important message here is: if you feel that your judgment isn’t good, leading to unjustified fears, anxiety, or unsuccessful actions, a useful way to frame it is that you have lost touch with reality. In that case, a useful thing to try is more regular exercise, ideally in the morning, outdoors, and with people.

To me, movement is more impactful than food, reading, coffee, or any other method for better mental performance and good judgment. I also believe that laziness and obesity caused by a lack of movement are valid indicators for distrusting the judgment of many people who show these characteristics.

Of course, this isn’t something you should apply by default, but I think it’s worth considering. I also know that some people might be offended by that, but if you are, I challenge you to move more for a year or so and then come back to this article and let me know whether you noticed an improvement in your overall judgment and decision-making. I’m confident that you will.