At the age of 52, country music superstar Tim McGraw feels more energized than he did ten years ago. He feels mentally and physically stronger, too. He’s more creative, has less anxiety, sings better, and is a better performer. McGraw credits these changes to a seemingly small decision he made a decade ago—to move his body every day. , contains valuable insights for today’s over-worked and over-stressed business professional, especially those who lead others.
McGraw didn’t like what he saw and how he felt. His energy was low. He felt sluggish, he was getting sick too often, his mind was ‘muddled’ and he felt anxious. These are not the qualities of peak performance in any field—on a music stage or in the business world. In one chapter of the book, McGraw explains five reasons why it’s important to move or exercise every day.Once you start moving , your cravings for unhealthy food will diminish and your craving for healty alternatives will rise. You’ll drink more water which, in turn, boosts energy and brainpower. Movement “pumps more oxygen into your tissues and wakes up the sluggish brain,” writes McGraw with the help of his co-writer, health expert Amely Greeven.
Stress is a deeply physical phenomenon,” says McGraw. “When the brain perceives a situation as threatening or too hard to handle, it sets off the release of a series of hormones that prompt the secretion of adrenaline and cortisol, our primary stress hormones. Though adrenaline disperses rapidly, cortisol likes to hang around in the bloodstream for longer, especially if you sit all day.”