The most tiring days are those when you have to do the same thing. Often, tired of the monotony, we mechanically get up, wander around the room and stretch ourselves with pleasure. This is, so to speak, a subconscious outdoor activity. Signals coming from the muscles contribute to the restoration of the performance of nerve cells tired of mental work.
Mental work, as you know, is not easy to regulate. A person “infected” with an idea gives it not only his working time, but involuntarily returns to it with a thought even during rest hours. The so-called dominant in the cerebral cortex does not allow to “throw out” it from the head. Such a site acts by the right of the strong: it “attracts” excitations from other sections to itself, is amplified at their expense, and their reactions are inhibited. That is why a person who is completely absorbed in a matter of interest to him does not react to the environment. This is an external manifestation of the “labor dominant”, which often inhibits even such strong stimuli for the nervous system as hunger and the need for sleep.
How and why you need to alternate mental and physical work
Particularly important is the correct alternation of work and rest and active physical work during periods of intense and prolonged mental labor, for example, during a session, defense of diplomas and dissertations. Physical education every 2-3 hours of mental work at this time are absolutely necessary.
Other middle -aged people and especially the elderly, who have been engaged only in mental work all their lives, often express the doubt: “Is it too late to change the established way of life and begin to engage in physical education?»” No, it’s not too late, it’s never too late!”- Modern medicine answers them. At any age, it is necessary, of course, having consulted with a doctor, to establish a mode of life that would certainly provide for feasible physical exercises.
You are not convinced that this is true? Remember the biography of Louis Pasteur. When he was 46 years old, he had a hemorrhage in the brain, as a result of which the scientist was paralyzed. Slowly recovering from a heavy ailment, Pasteur carefully analyzed its reasons and came to the conclusion: excessive mental work and incorrect mode is to blame. He started exercising regularly. For 20 years after his illness, Louis Pasteur surprised his colleagues with exceptional energy and hard work. It was during this second period of his life that he made the most valuable discoveries.
How and why you need to alternate mental and physical work
What elements of physical culture must be included in the daily routine of mental workers? First of all, morning exercises followed by wiping or dousing the body with cold water, walking in the fresh air.
Very useful for skating or skiing, swimming, rowing, athletics or outdoor sports games. Make it a rule to go out of town on Saturday and Sunday. Close contact with nature, active movements, air and sun are necessary for everyone.
How and why you need to alternate mental and physical work
Sport has become a real need for many scientists. It is sport that allows you to maintain good performance, good intellectual shape.
Rem Ivanovich Soloukhin was engaged in artistic gymnastics with enviable constancy for many years; he is a candidate for master of sports. His belief in the miraculous power of physical education was shared by the director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Honored Academician G. And. Budker – tourist, traveler and water skier, Doctor of Technical Sciences A. And. Leontiev – badminton champion of Novosibirsk and many other scientists, inventors, designers, engineers, teachers.
