Harness Your Brain’s Power: Using the Reticular Activating System to Keep Moving

Movement is vital for a healthy body. It isn’t an option. Just like your body requires certain nutrients to function, your body requires movement to function well.

But do you always feel motivated to move? 

If you’re a human then I imagine your answer was “No”.  (Me either”)

We often use motivation to do something…..and as a reason to not do something. Well, at least I know I do. If you’re anything like me, then you’ve told yourself that you’re just not motivated to clean the house, practice yoga, meditate, go through a closet, organize the basement, etc. The list can go on and on.

Or on the flip side are you ever super motivated to clean the house, organize your closet, exercise, or check off things on your to-do list? It can be great when we’re motivated. Less great when we’re not.

Motivation is a feeling. And let’s face it, you’re not always going to feel it! 

How can we keep moving, even when we don’t feel motivated? I suggest you use your brain, specifically your reticular activating system (RAS). 

What is your Reticular Activating System (RAS)?

The RAS is a network of neurons located in the brainstem that regulates wakefulness, attention, and sleep-wake transitions. You are constantly bombarded with stimuli. One job of your RAS is to filter out what is important and what isn’t.  And who determines that? You. It takes what you focus on and creates a filter for it. It sifts through all the stimuli and only presents parts that are important to you. 

Have you ever thought about buying a certain car then you started seeing them everywhere? That’s your RAS working for you. 

It also validates your beliefs. If you think you’re bad at balancing on one leg, you probably will be. If you don’t like to move a lot then you’ll likely find many reasons not to. If you don’t think you can do __________ (fill in the blank) then you likely won’t. The RAS helps you see what you want to see. 

Let’s explore the balancing example. I hear a lot of “I can’t balance” or “I’m not good at balancing”.  What will this person focus on when standing on one leg? Likely the wobbling that happens, that they can’t lift one leg very high, or that they touch their lifted foot down occasionally. 

But what if this same person believed instead that they are “constantly improving their balance”? Perhaps then the RAS would bring their attention to the fact that they can lift a leg a little higher than before. That the standing leg feels more strong. That they don’t always use the table as support when balancing. 

The RAS plays a crucial role in how you interpret your reality. It demonstrates the profound impact your thoughts and focus have on shaping your experience. 

What if you used your RAS to help you keep moving? 

Let me share how I trained my brain to recognize opportunities to go for a short walk (without even realizing it). 

I’m an early riser. I love my mornings and I love the early morning air. It had been a goal of mine to get outside soon after it gets light for a short walk. I’m talking 15 minutes max. Sounds easy, right?!

For a long time, I kept telling myself that I just couldn’t do it, that it wouldn’t work right now. And you know what? I found A LOT of reasons that got in the way. But a few months ago I decided that this was important to me and I wanted to carve out the time for a short walk. I kept picturing what it would be like to go on that short walk with our dog, Luna.

The first few times I intentionally decided on a time the following morning to get out for a walk. But after that, it became easier and easier. I started to see the opportunities to get outside in the early morning. 

And now, Luna and I get out most mornings for a quick walk. Instead of seeing reasons why I can’t get out for a walk, I see the many opportunities I have to get outside. 

Try it out.

1. Think of the goal or situation you want to influence – although I’m focused on movement you can do this with anything!

2. Think about what you’ll experience or the result you want to reach related to that goal/situation.

3. Create a mental picture, or movie, of that goal/situation ideally turning out in the future. What do you hear? What do you see

4. Replay it often in your head.

I know that things aren’t as easy as they sound. It’s about visualizing what you want, and then letting your subconscious and conscious work together to make it happen.

Why not give it a try?

Wanna keep reading? Check out this article on 5 things that help me move.