The Front Desk

It is common knowledge that exercise improves cognitive functioning, while sitting too much is said to be bad for the body and the brain. But what if we’re simply tapping into different aspects of our intelligence while we’re exercising versus when we’re sitting still? New research suggests this may be the case.

Listen to your gut. Research shows that abdominal fat is an indicator of heart health. A study published earlier this year in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that extra belly fat could increase the chances of repeat strokes and heart attacks. Researchers followed almost 23,000 people who recently had a cardiac malfunction. After four years of observation, people with more abdominal fat were significantly more likely to experience another stroke or heart attack.

It’s easy to forget that the food we eat directly affects how we think and feel, but it does. Our brain is only responsible for 2% of our body weight, but uses up to 20% of our energy. It needs fuel to keep us alert, productive, and feeling good. The reason you sluggish or unable to focus might be as simple as the food you ate for lunch. Here’s what you need to know.

Listening to music during exercise makes the whole experience more pleasant and improves performance. Studies show that music significantly increases the length of a workout, distracts from pain and boosts mood, and even changes how efficiently our bodies work. All the evidence exists, but many of us already know this to be true, we can feel the energy every time we put on a pair of headphones.

Let’s talk about the runner’s high. If all you’ve ever experienced while running is pain, you might think it’s a myth. Or, you might be intimately familiar with this delightful painkilling buzz. Running is one of those activities that almost anyone can do, but many either love it or hate it.

It’s no secret that many of us don’t get as much physical activity as we should. Global health statistics report that 31% of the overall adult population has insufficient physical activity levels, and that number is even higher in the Americas, with 43% of adults coming up short. These statistics pose an inevitable question—how do we change our behavior? Human motivation is a tricky subject, but many researchers point to wearable fitness trackers as one possible site of intervention.

Research shows that the best way to align our long term goals with our short term behaviors is by forming good habits. Habits make the actions necessary to reach our goal feel almost effortless, and that’s how we get to where we want to be. The most common mistake people make when setting a big goal—like losing weight, eating healthier, or working out more regularly—is trying to accomplish too much at once and losing steam quickly. Forming positive habits is the solution to this problem, but it is easier said than done.

Whatever your work life looks like right now, no one is immune to a little afternoon drowsiness. It can happen at any time, you’re chugging along and suddenly you feel like you need to chug a coffee instead. But the instant relief from that coffee buzz could prevent you from a restful night's sleep later on, and so begins a vicious cycle of unrest.

Are you an early bird? A night owl? Or somewhere in between? Everyone is different, but new research shows that your natural daily rhythm could impact how much physical activity you get.

According to the American Psychological Association, at least 62% of Americans report feeling stressed about their finances. This is data from a study conducted in 2017, before we had any idea how many layers of stress were right around the corner in 2020. In today’s anxiety-inducing climate, it’s time to #TakeCare and eliminate excess stress from our lives. One of the most underrated ways to practice self-care is by reducing financial stress—and it’s easier than it sounds.