I'm skeptical this can be implemented into a schedule where you do mental work for multiple hours a day.
Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
11–20 of 132 posts
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#12> While widespread strategies to recover from mental exhaustion (i.e., watching TV) are non-effective, I worked for a startup from 2015 to 2017. During that time I'd sometimes work 10-14 hours for 2-3 days in a row. When I was tired after lunch I'd just tell my colleagues I was tired and would take a gaming break and then go play 1 or 2 maps of CS:GO in casual mode before working 5-7 hours more after the brain fog ha…
If you ever want to do breakfast again, try dropping the carbs. Had a similar problem, and greek yogurt for breakfast solved it for me.
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#13> While widespread strategies to recover from mental exhaustion (i.e., watching TV) are non-effective, I worked for a startup from 2015 to 2017. During that time I'd sometimes work 10-14 hours for 2-3 days in a row. When I was tired after lunch I'd just tell my colleagues I was tired and would take a gaming break and then go play 1 or 2 maps of CS:GO in casual mode before working 5-7 hours more after the brain fog ha…
It sound funny but it seems like playing cs go for you at the time was equivalent of a mind calming meditation. Especially play easy mode where you get kill streaks which can remotivate you
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#14One of the single biggest errors I’ve had to unlearn being taught in my life is that “exercise is for the body and mainly for athletes” instead of (or perhaps along with) “exercise is also for the mind if you’re a nerd” ;)
(Naturally, the mind is part of the body, but the mental benefits are drastically under-emphasized!)
Morning exercise a few times a week (at Orangetheory, in my case) lead to fairly large productivity boosts. My head feels so much clearer and I seem to have a lot more focus on tap, and just raw motivation to get things done or what I call “mental oomph”.
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#15When the article talks about "mental exhaustion", it is talking about short-term mental fatigue from the likes of working too long on a mental task. It is not talking about chronic fatigue or burnout due to chronic stress, or ME/CFS, for which exercise may cause worsening of symptoms. In that case stress reduction is likely the better solution, and exercise managed so you are not doing too little or too much.
Making this comment because I suffered (and recovered from) ME/CFS myself.
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#16This is quite interesting -- I think digging into how long this would be efficient for would be interesting.
I often feel that the most refreshed I feel is if I combine high intensity aerobics with the outdoors -- something about the ocean or forest always bring peace and makes me feel focused for the rest of the day. It would be nice to dig into how setting us also helps.
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#17> While widespread strategies to recover from mental exhaustion (i.e., watching TV) are non-effective, I worked for a startup from 2015 to 2017. During that time I'd sometimes work 10-14 hours for 2-3 days in a row. When I was tired after lunch I'd just tell my colleagues I was tired and would take a gaming break and then go play 1 or 2 maps of CS:GO in casual mode before working 5-7 hours more after the brain fog ha…
It sound funny but it seems like playing cs go for you at the time was equivalent of a mind calming meditation. Especially play easy mode where you get kill streaks which can remotivate you
My pet theory for why it worked back then has been that my brain is easily fooled, sensed a life and death scenario and released adrenaline which sharpened me, but I'm no specialist, I just know some tricks that sometimes work for me.)
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#18Personal Anecdote: when I was in an office (before current WFH) and I was mentally exhausted I would go down to the gym, slam slam balls into the floor for 2 minutes without stopping, maybe take a 30 second cold shower, then return to work. Super refreshing and I was gone from my desk a grand total of like 8 minutes.
Sadly I don't frequent a gym anymore, but this is an idea I'd never have thought of.
How did you arrive at this ritual?
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#19Personal Anecdote: when I was in an office (before current WFH) and I was mentally exhausted I would go down to the gym, slam slam balls into the floor for 2 minutes without stopping, maybe take a 30 second cold shower, then return to work. Super refreshing and I was gone from my desk a grand total of like 8 minutes.
[deleted]
Re: Acute aerobic exercise to recover from mental exhaustion
#2030 minutes of aerobic exercise for 1 hour of mental work is what was assessed. Does it have the same benefits if we have 8 hours of mental work instead?
Based (only) on the personal experience of going for a run after a day at the computer and then working on a side project, I would say that even after 8 hours you can recover from the mental exhaustion of the day. Not completely, but you would definitely be able to work more/better than without the exercise in between.