{"id":12191,"date":"2020-06-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alifeofproductivity.com\/?p=12191"},"modified":"2022-09-15T02:13:39","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T02:13:39","slug":"want-to-become-happier-get-moving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrisbailey.com\/want-to-become-happier-get-moving\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to become happier? Get moving!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Takeaway:<\/b>Kelly McGonigal\u2019s latest book, The Joy of Movement<\/i><\/a>, is an ode to the value that movement can bring to our lives. Kelly shares how exercise of any kind and for any length of time can help us not only feel physically healthier, but also more connected with ourselves and our communities. She says that group movement is almost always better than individual exercise (even if it\u2019s online!)\u2014unless you\u2019re spending time alone in nature.<\/p>\n

Estimated Reading Time:<\/b>3 minutes, 38s.<\/p>\n

Podcast Length:<\/b> 45 minutes, 28s (link to play podcast at the bottom of post).<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\r\n

\"Want<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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The Amazon links below are affiliate links\u2014I get a cut of sales. I\u2019ll be donating what I make to the\u00a0NAACP\u2019s Legal Defense and Educational Fund<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Movement may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about forming a connection with the people around you or attaining a sense of mental calm. Perhaps you envision a raucous dinner party to celebrate a friend\u2019s birthday. Or maybe your mind paints a picture of a stoic figure meditating in silence and stillness. Or, a personal favorite, relaxing on the couch playing Animal Crossing, or sinking into a good book.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Kelly McGonigal<\/a>\u00a0is an advocate for anything that gets us moving as a group\u2014among a suite of other exercises. Kelly is a health psychologist and Stanford University lecturer whose\u00a0TED talk about how to make stress your friend<\/a> has been viewed more than 30 million times.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In her latest book,\u00a0The Joy of Movement<\/a><\/em>, Kelly looks at how exercise can make you braver, help you connect with others, and experience mental resilience and joy. I\u2019ve been a long-time fan of Kelly\u2019s writing, and her 2015 book,\u00a0The Upside of Stress<\/em>, is one of my personal picks for\u00a0the best productivity books<\/a>\u00a0out there.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I love the way Kelly frames the importance of movement and exercise. Instead of explaining it as a project to make our bodies fit within societal norms or as a means to reduce risk of chronic health concerns down the road,\u00a0The Joy of Movement<\/a><\/em>\u00a0argues that exercise is a key piece of the puzzle that will help you live a more engaged, happy life.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The book is highly actionable, and in our chat Kelly shares some interesting tactics and tidbits on how you can use movement as a way to change your mindset around stress and create more connection with the people and things you love. Here\u2019s some of what she had to say.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. The type of movement doesn\u2019t matter<\/strong>. Embracing movement doesn\u2019t mean you suddenly need to start running marathons (a relief to me). Any dose of movement\u2014be it three minutes or three hours\u2014is one of the easiest things you can do to boost your mood and give you a hit of resilience or hope. So whether it\u2019s flailing your arms to your favorite song or tapping your fingers on the table, Kelly advises us to start where we are, do what we can, and think about using as much of our body as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Exercise and movement can help you deal with social anxiety.<\/strong>\u00a0This is something Kelly found in her own life. She describes her default temperament as shy, sensitive, and anxious\u2014but goes on to explain how exercise makes her better and braver. Movement triggers the release of endocannabinoids, neurotransmitters that not only reduce fear and anxiety but also promote positive social engagement and increase the warm glow you get when you\u2019re around others. It\u2019s like a dose of medicine that makes it easier to connect with other people.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Group movement can bring more benefits than individual movement\u2014even when it\u2019s online.<\/strong>\u00a0Moving together creates a shared experience and sense of community which fosters further bonding and trust. This can be everything from traditional team sports to a zumba class to running ultramarathons. Though the latter typically evokes images of uber-fit athletes charging alone through the mountains, it\u2019s actually the ability to be supported by others and the feeling of being part of a collective activity that allows ultramarathoners to benefit from that same sense of group connection and community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While it\u2019s admittedly not the best time to be thinking of group activities, we can actually gain the same benefits when joining a group exercise class on Zoom. Research even supports that moving alongside avatars\u2014virtual human beings!\u2014can have the same effect.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

4. Head outside for some green exercise.<\/strong>\u00a0Moving alone in nature could actually be more powerful than moving together while outdoors. I personally start most mornings by making a cup of tea and going for a short hike. Kelly shares that moving in nature can be a shortcut to the calm state of mind attained through meditation. By breathing in gulps of fresh air, feeling the sun on our skin, and listening to the birdsong, nature allows us to take in new sensations and thoughts while letting go of the stressors of the past and future.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

5. The movement you choose can help reveal or strengthen parts of your personality.<\/strong>\u00a0While any movement is better than none, Kelly says you can also strategically focus on a form of movement that will help you experience parts of yourself that you value. She shares a personal example of how learning mixed martial arts and kickboxing have helped her feel more brave, and have proven to her that she can fight for herself and for others.\u00a0I could go on and on about what Kelly shared during our chat, but you\u2019re better off just listening to the podcast. I hope you enjoy our conversation!<\/p>\r\n