Tag: Writing

Categories
Health

The Best Way to Think…

I read two interesting things this week, perhaps unrelated, but my mind wants to put them together. Of course, I instantly applied these ideas to my art pursuits, but I believe they could be helpful in determining how to achieve anything you wanted to accomplish.

Move…
The first is that creativity is increased when you move your body, for example, thinking while walking rather than sitting. Although my creativity is expressed currently through painting, creativity also helps to solve problems or accomplish anything you want to do. I’m reading Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache series, and the main character always goes for a walk when he’s trying to figure out a particularly difficult case! Scientific studies support improved creativity during and immediately after walking, and doing this activity outdoors works even better than exercising indoors. The benefits of movement and being outside add together.

Routine…
The second idea is that having a routine makes movement more automatic. Building exercise into your daily routine makes it much more likely that you’ll do it every day. Changing habits can be a challenge but, once established, these habits take a lot of decision-making out of your day, making your life less stressed and more relaxed, saving your brain-power for the rest of your day. Truly creating a new habit can take a month or two to become really automatic. Of course, we live in a 3-story house, so our exercise is built into our day… even easier!

But, when it comes to walking outside, my habit has been to paint and then go for a walk. In fact, I often like to leave my walk until late afternoon! But I very likely would benefit from a change in my routine — go for a walk outside first, think about what I want to create, then sit down and paint!

And I could also use the anti-stress effects of exercise — we are just putting our beloved home on the market after almost 18 years here… it’s time to downsize! You should see our place — totally decluttered and depersonalized, ready for the photographer to come this afternoon. Feels so weird!

Meanwhile, my painting sustains and relaxes me — it’s like a meditation that will go with me wherever I end up! I’m working on scenes of the beach and the marsh in front of our home. If you’d enjoy viewing my paintings, here’s a link to my online gallery: https://jeanniebeaudin.com/portraits-landscapes-black-art-a-creative-journey/ and to a slide show of my new series, “Welcome Back”: https://jeanniebeaudin.com/2026/06/02/welcome-back-series/

References:
Giving Your Ideas Some Legs (Pubmed) — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24749966/
Acute and Chronic Physical Activity Increases Creative Ideation Performance (Pubmed) — https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40798-022-00444-9
Arnold’s Pump Club Newsletter — https://arnoldspumpclub.com/blogs/newsletter/can-fitness-predict-lifespan-better-than-cholesterol

Categories
Health

Memory problem? Take note…

My mom has always had the best memory of anyone in the family…and she’s over 90 now (though she wouldn’t want me to tell anyone that!). She keeps a journal… about everyday things: the weather, appointments, who visited, prices of things, interesting articles in the news.

And now there’s research that says we remember better when we write something down using pen and paper than when we type on a computer.

Researchers have found that physical writing uses more parts of the brain than typing does, and involving multiple senses helps us remember better. Years ago, I read that we remember more when we both hear and see information, compared to just reading it. And doing something (anything!) with the information, whether actually using it or simply playing a game with the information, helps us remember even more – all because we’re using more of our senses.

All this suggests that children should learn to write, not just use a keyboard. The slower speed of writing and the increased difficulty of altering what you’ve already put down makes you organize your thoughts more concisely. As an adult, if you’re reading an important book or information article, take notes…the process of writing down what’s important to you will help you remember the details and organize the information in your mind.

There’s something about pens and paper I’ve always loved… a special pen, multiple colours of ink, a beautiful hardcover notebook to write in. Perhaps that’s part of why I like to write. I often write out an outline for a blog article with a nice sharp pencil as I’m reading and researching. The lined book I’ve been using for the past year and a half is almost full. But, I think I’ll start a journal too – one on paper. I tried an online version a few years ago, which offered the bonus of allowing me to add photos, but it seems what I wrote just disappeared into a list of dates. Maybe I’ll look for a really nice pen to write it with… and have a section for blog ideas!

How about you? Want to improve your memory? Try making notes of what you want to remember, or things you’d like to accomplish. Review your notes later to help your recall of the facts and check off items on your “to do” list – you may find that you feel better about your memory and your achievements!

Reference:

Michael Hyatt’s newsletter

==============================================

I hope you’re enjoying my blog articles about interesting information I’ve read and learned. If you do, please join my email list and share it with anyone you think might be interested in health information and staying well! I so appreciate it…

==============================================