Running is not only good for your health but also for your blog. Running can help you improve blogging. It does not directly contribute to your blog. You will benefit indirectly in blogging by running. How does that happen?
Image Source: Jog by AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker
I am a huge fan of cardio and love to run a 5k. But I am no where near it. I started running only to reduce weight. Surprisingly it helped me improve blogging. I could easily brainstorm blog posts by running few minutes a day.
You don’t necessarily have to try for a 5k run but there is no reason why you shouldn’t. If you are new to running, I recommend you to read this blog post on Beginner’s guide to running by Leo at Zen Habits, which encouraged me to run.
Without further ado, let’s discuss the benefits of running and how it will improve your blogging skills:
1. No More Blogger’s Block
Blogger’s block is a term which you would have heard very often in the blogosphere. It is something that people always find it tough to avoid. But the truth is that there is no such thing called blogger’s block. It is just a mental perception. You are imagining things. To prove my point, let me give you an example:
Would you not write a post if Darren Rowse went for a holiday and requested a guest post from you?
How is that you are able to write now? It is only your attitude towards blogging. But I accept I’m also a victim of it. I tend to imagine things that are not real. I have had days when I cannot sit down and write a blog post. Things have changed now. One of the reasons for it is running. Let me make it clear for you:
When you start running, you will never have blogger’s block.
As Will Smith says in this video called “Key To Life”
When you’re running, there is an inner person that talks to you, which says “Oh I’m tired. My lungs are about to pop off. There is no way I could possibly continue.” You want to quit. If you learn how to defeat that inner person, you’ll learn how to not quit when things get hard in your life (I haven’t transcribed that perfectly).
Watch the video here.
2. Spend Time Off from Your Computer
If you are like ‘previous me’, you would spend most of the time in front of computer. Let me tell you, it isn’t good for health. It is also not good for blogging. When you are always sitting in front of computer, you cannot think to your full capabilities. You have to give your mind some rest and getting off from your computer for a run will help you a lot. You will become more creative and your posts will have much better impact.
3. Brainstorm Topic Ideas
I can tell you frankly that most of my articles are brainstormed when I am either running or walking. I rarely get a blog post idea when I am sitting in front of computer. As Robin Sharma says in his book called Greatness Guide: The best thing you could do is, spend time thinking. Spend time brainstorming blog posts. You could do this effectively when you are running. When I am running, I think about blog post ideas or a social media plan.
4. Things around You Helps
When you are running or jogging, look around you. Take a quick note of things around you, in your mind. Come home and write everything you saw in a real notebook or Google notebook. Write down everything, from a baby playing with a ball to a dog chasing someone. Don’t leave out anything that you saw. This increases your memory power and also helps you create more blog posts. How does this help? It’s very simple logic. You should try to relate everything you see outside with blogging. You could write “Why blogging is as awesome as seeing a baby smile” or “Why you should run away from (something here) as if a dog is chasing you”. These are just small examples. You can brainstorm at least five blog post ideas everyday.
Have you ever had the feeling that you can not post on a specific day because you don’t have the mood for it? If you are already running, have you felt an increase in your blogging skill? Please share your views in the comments.
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