Exercise and software developers are usually not seen as a pair that goes together. It feels weird to see the word “exercise” in the same heading as “software developer.” However, exercise is not about physically being in better shape. As a software developer, you spend much of your day sitting behind your computer. Being in such a position for a prolonged period hurts your productivity and health.
Physical exercise has shown great potential in improving a human’s well-being and health. Continually, physical activity has been affiliated with a person losing weight or trying to enlarge their muscles. Studies have provided evidence that frequent exercise for software developers improves their cognitive functions such as problem-solving skills, memory, decision-making, and mental agility. Regular exercise is an aspect that is occasionally not discussed but essential in our lives, more so when dealing with thorny problems like designing new features, deciphering or bug test environment duplication.
Research suggests that the brain sections that guide thinking and memory are in large capacity in people who exercise compared to those who don’t. This article explains how physical exercise is essential to software developers and how it can make you better at your job.
Benefits of Physical Exercise to a Software Developer
Physical exertion helps a developer grow their brain in various ways. The effects of physical exercise can mount over time. Meaning that doing exercise a habit brings more excellent and more significant results as time passes. Here is a list of various benefits of frequent exercise to software developers.
Physical exercise improves your memory and thinking skills.
Research suggests that exercising daily improves neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is liable for learning and memory. As a developer, you must depend on your memory and thinking skills your entire career. You have to regularly remember code patterns and changes, tasks and user stories so you can solve rising problems and raise ideas in meetings. Exercise will promote the development of new neural connections. Software developers utilize their brains many times; therefore, their brains have to be mentally fresh. And to do so, software developers are advised to exercise regularly.
Exercise amplifies your cognitive Functions.
Cognitive functions refer to mental processes involved in the possession of knowledge, reasoning and manipulation of information. Cognitive functions include perception, learning, attention, decision-making, and language abilities. The brain’s cognitive functions assist you in performing tasks. As a developer, cognitive functions authorise you to receive, process and transform information. Exercises stimulate the human brain to hold on to old network connections and make new ones critical to cognitive health. Physical activity also promotes the release of brain chemicals responsible for generating cells in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that regulates memory and learning. This increases concentration and cognitive capability and minimises the risk of degenerative mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Therefore, it would be great if software developers gave those skills conditions necessary to be at their best.
Physical exercise minimises stress.
One of the best things to do when you’ve had a stressful day is a quick workout. One of the usual benefits of working out is stress relief. As a developer, you always have many things going on in your work and personal life, and physical exercise allows you to get away from all of it for a while. Exercise is both play and recreation; when your body is busy, your mind gets distracted from the concerns of your daily life, such as work and will freely think creatively. Working up a sweat helps control and manage physical and mental stress. Exercise also increases the concentration of norepinephrine, a chemical that moderates the brain’s response to stress. Assisting the body in practice overcoming that stress.
Exercise improves your mood.
Physical Exercise releases endorphins, which are responsible for generating feelings of happiness and euphoria. As a developer, most times, your mood is low, or you are depressed about some project, working out can assist you in easing the signs of depression. And to experience a good mood boost, spare 30 minutes of working a few times every week. This will have a significant impact on your overall mood. Since most times you’re interacting and collaborating with others, a good attitude can determine your work as a software developer.
Physical exercise improves relaxation and sleep.
As a developer, you’re constantly straining your brain every time you work on that complex code; therefore, your body needs to get enough sleep and relaxation. Physical exercise will help you sleep faster and improve the quality of sleep. Exercise increases your body’s temperature, and when it drops back to normal a couple of hours later, it sends the body a signal that it is time for sleep. As a developer, sleep is essential in your life. Without good sleep, your work can be affected by sleep deprivation like memory loss or lack of concentration.
Conclusion
When you exercise once or twice a week, your brain activities will be high on those particular days you exercise. On the other days you don’t exercise, the brain will have less training. The benefits of physical exercise to a software developer are desirable and will help you as you age. As you exercise, your brain increases activity, which assists with cognition. In addition to improving your mood and minimising stress, physical exercise improves your productivity and cognitive functions. All types of exercise can help you become more mentally healthy, the important thing is to find an activity you will enjoy and stick to it.
