On my rickety old e-bike, I set off from Champigny-sur-Marne, just east of Paris, heading towards the lush woods of Notre-Dame Forest and beyond. I had no plan of where I was going, but that’s my favorite kind of ride.
I’m convinced that more people need to ride bikes. Cycling is a simple yet powerful way to boost both your mental and physical health. Regular cycling increases serotonin and dopamine levels, which can improve mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s a powerful antidote to the screen-centric, algorithm-driven lives many of us lead.
Beyond the mental clarity it provides, cycling has significant long-term benefits for both the mind and body. It improves mood, reduces stress, and alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression by boosting serotonin and dopamine levels. It’s also an excellent way to protect your physical health—helping prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and improving balance and coordination, which can reduce the risk of falls as we age.
As you can see, I don’t wear lycra and ride an expensive road bike. My bike crunches through the gears as I take it to places it was never built to go to. I’m driven by curiosity and a desire to simply escape screens and break those routines that steal time from us all.
Find a bike and go for a ride!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/minding-the-body/201505/bicycling-can-sharpen-your-thinking-and-improve-your-mood