Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (N.E.A.T.) for enhancing the mental performance and writing productivity of online writers through physical activity like walking.

Abstract

The article discusses the often-overlooked factor of physical activity, specifically N.E.A.T., in improving the cognitive functions and idea generation of online writers. It suggests that great writers throughout history have instinctively utilized walking to stimulate their minds, enhance creativity, and improve their mental health by releasing endorphins. The author argues that the sedentary lifestyle of writers can be counteracted by incorporating more physical activities into their routine, which not only aids in burning calories but also significantly contributes to the processing of thoughts and the overall quality of writing. The article also addresses the unique challenges faced by online writers, such as eye strain and hyperconnectivity, and proposes that increased N.E.A.T. can mitigate these issues. Furthermore, the author provides a personal anecdote, offering a link to additional tips for enhancing writing skills and invites readers to subscribe to their content for further insights.

Opinions

The author believes that physical movement is crucial for mental performance and that writers should engage in activities like walking to enhance their writing.
It is suggested that the act of walking can lead to a flow state, which is beneficial for creative thinking and problem-solving.
The article posits that endorphins released during physical activities contribute to a writer's ability to enter a flow state and improve mental health.
The author is of the opinion that online writers face specific challenges, such as low activity levels and eye strain, which can be alleviated by increasing N.E.A.T.
The author values the concept of a "prosilient mind" and aims to inspire and energize readers through their writing, emphasizing the importance of stepping away from the screen to overcome writer's block.
There is an endorsement for readers to engage with the author's content by subscribing and considering a Medium membership to support writers and access unlimited content.

The Biggest Underestimated Factor For Online Writing

Writers N.E.A.T.

“The best way to improve mental performance is physical performance.” -Timothy Ferriss-

Great Writers Focus On N.E.A.T.

I call it active mind writing.

“Writers move”

All great writers walk a lot. Or did you think that writers sit the whole day? Many great writers claim that they need the walk.

Tim Ferriss
Joyce Carol
Walter Isaacson
Tim Denning
Derek Sivers

While moving around, often it’s difficult to capture your ideas by writing them straight away on the internet. Arguably, you could do that by using your phone, but then this activity might obstruct your flow of thinking.

You can say it won’t, but it will.

Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis or N.E.A.T. is the energy expended for everything that isn’t:

Eating
Sleeping
Exercising

Think of daily tasks. Mowing the lawn. Doing dishes. Anything that increases your metabolic rate above your rest state, besides what’s mentioned above.

N.E.A.T. is different for everyone. Still, it can account for roughly 30% of your daily calorie burning.

The greatest writers sense what the power of N.E.A.T. has on their brainstorming ability. Whether they are fully aware of this concept or not, they take advantage of this method to generate ideas.

They walk a lot and produce ideas on the move.

Walking induces your brain to release endorphins, the neurotransmitter that helps to boost your mental health.

Endorphins induce pleasure and have the power to relieve pain.

Moreover, elevated endorphin levels are traced back to when you are in a flow state!

Tension and stress in the body disappear and are replaced with pleasure instead.

The power of hormones your body produces is magnificent. They regulate your state of being. And that regulation works miracles on the processing of thoughts.

So, great writers use their walks.

Often alone without too many other distractions or with someone who magnifies their idea rendering, someone who stimulates their thinking, someone who challenges them to think better and differently.

Great writers understand that sitting still the whole day doesn’t increase their writing productivity. By placing more emphasis on N.E.A.T., you’ll not be solely activating your brain activity, but you’ll burn more calories along the way.

Activity produces output.

But why for online writers per se?

Online writers have two forces working against them:

Low activity (like every writer)
Eye strain & hyperconnectivity

Increased N.E.A.T. reduces both of these tremendous problems. As for the latter, eye strain, or moreover, visual still image, has a negative psychological effect over absorbing visual movement. (It’s how our eyes are the part of our brain linked to the external world).

As a bonus, here are some wonderful ways that improved my writing, which can help yours too:

Five Wonderful Ways That Will Make Your Writing Significantly Easier

Want to start writing, but you don’t know what to write? Try this and write like a print press

sven-writing.medium.com

Absorb, Read, Write, Sleep, Exercise, Thrive!

Thanks for reading this post!

When you want to improve your writing, you might want to consider literally stepping away more often from your screen whenever you feel blocked and increasing the processing of thoughts by walking around.

P.S.:

I’m a firm believer in building a prosilient mind. I like to inspire and energize my readers by writing.

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