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Global investor Toby Carrodus doesn’t have a side gig as a personal trainer, but he is as vocal as a fitness expert about the power of exercise. A virtuoso in quantitative analysis, he hits frenetic periods at work but resists the round-the-clock grind.
“Modern entrepreneurship has been associated with ‘hustling and grinding’ 24/7 and no days off,” Carrodus says. “But this is not sustainable and won’t foster the mental clarity needed to make sensible decisions in a pressured environment.”
Through quantitative analysis, Carrodus aids companies in making critical business and financial decisions. He achieved a Bachelor of Economics and a B.A. in political science from the Australian National University and a Master of Science in Economics degree from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
He describes himself as “a fitness fanatic and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for surfing.” He schedules regular exercise at least four days a week, then he surfs, hikes, or pursues other physical activities beyond that.
“I’ve found that during my working week, a large part of ensuring I make it to the gym is consistently scheduling it for the same time each day,” Carrodus says. “Going at the same time every day offers structure to your day. It also allows you to maintain your momentum, as colleagues generally know you will be unavailable at that time each day.”
Scientific studies echo Carrodus’ experience. One study published in the medical journal “Obesity” examined 375 adults who maintained a healthy weight through physical activity. The participants who exercised at the same time – morning, afternoon, or evening – exercised more than those who didn’t. Participants who kept the same schedule logged 4.8 workouts per week, compared with 4.4 among people with various workout times. Scientists theorize that scheduling workouts consistently creates a habit.
Dale Bond, the study’s senior author, explained, “A good message for the general public is that the best time to exercise is when you can do it, and if you can do it with consistency, so much the better.”
Subhead: Toby Carrodus Says Exercise Increases Energy – and Science Proves It
In a fascinating paradox, regular exercise increases rather than depletes a person’s energy. Toby Carrodus experiences this phenomenon.
“Working out limbers up the body, gets the blood pumping, and generates lasting energy for the day,” Carrodus says. “I truly believe that regular exercise has boosted my productivity in recent years. It elevates my energy levels to be better able to deal with the stresses of trading and life.”
Again, he’s onto something: Science reveals that exercise increases energy through several mechanisms. Cellular-level changes occur in the body as exertion produces additional mitochondria inside muscle cells. Mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, create fuel from digested food’s glucose and oxygen from inhaled air. More mitochondria equal more energy. Exercise also increases the body’s oxygen circulation, which supports mitochondria’s energy production.
Subhead: Toby Carrodus Says Exercise Generates Ideas and Creativity
“I have always been a firm believer that exercising the body is as important as exercising the mind,” Toby Carrodus says. “There is a symbiotic relationship between your body and mind. I have found that some of my best thoughts, strategies and ideas come to me either during or immediately after exercise.”
Many studies have suggested that exercise enlarges the brain’s prefrontal and medial temporal cortexes, which control thinking and memory. Dr. Scott McGinnis, an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School, says, “Engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions.”
Exercise also affects in-the-moment brain activity – specifically, it increases creative thought, one of the most abstract thinking skills. Scientific literature finds a link between creativity and physical activity, such as walking and running, but the phenomenon’s root cause remains mysterious.
A study published in “Scientific Reports” by researchers at the University of Graz in Austria investigated the connection between exercise and creativity. It tracked the everyday activities of a group of average adults to see how the two might align. The findings point to “an association between creativity and physical activity in everyday life,” says Christian Rominger, a professor of psychology at the University of Graz and the study’s lead author.
As with other studies, the University of Graz’s research didn’t uncover underlying mechanisms that explain the relationship between activity and creativity. Creativity is hard to quantify; its causality is not completely clear, which is the case with many of the brain’s functions.
Carrodus is positive that exercise increases his inventiveness; it’s a bonus that studies reinforce his opinion. He’s so passionate about fitness that he infuses his holidays with it. He recently increased his energy, creativity, and brain volume by hiking the spectacular Alps of Tyrol, Austria, and the Dolomites, Italy.
Carrodus’ advice is unequivocal. He says, “Make sure you take some time each day to clear your head, whether it be rhythmic running at a steady pace, meditating or going for a walk. Your future position will be determined by the culmination of all your decisions. The quality of your decisions improves with a free and clear mind.”
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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko