Expert interview: David Beard talks exercise, fitness & exams

Fitness and performance specialist David Beard shares a compelling overview of the importance of exercise and fitness for exams and mental performance. You can subscribe to regular, practical fitness advice at lifelongfitness.net

It's no big secret that I'm not yet super in the physical activity department (note the 'yet'). I'm tempted to say that it's because "I was always picked last for sports in school" or "I used to be short and by the way I have red hair" - but they're useless stories to carry into the present (more on stories in another post). In fact, I could come up with 100 different stories to excuse myself from physical activity - and if you're in a similar situation, I'm sure you could too.

Really though, it comes down to the parameters we construct to drive our behaviour. If you're thinking you need to go out and spend hours jogging away, or intensely pumping weights at the gym (like I did right up to the point just before this interview), then you may be making the task too "difficult". One of awesome points David made was about setting a one-week goal, and focussing on activity-based goals. Just one week. That point had an impact on me (and this is funny - even though I have PhD expertise in goal getting, I'm still struck by BFO's* from time to time!). 

A key premise of goal setting theory is to make your goals challenging but realistic.
With physical activity, start realistic, then make it challenging. 

(And thanks again David for sharing your insight and reminding us of one of the simplest ways we can all boost our mental performance).

* BFO = blinding flash of the obvious