[deepGem]

I have been exercising in some way shape or form for the last 10-15 years. What I have found to be immensely beneficial is getting into a sport that you can play almost all through your life. Most sports have spurts of high intensity so that is super beneficial for dopamine rush. Then there is the psychological confidence boost that arises from just getting things right.

I started tennis lessons last week and honestly it's one of the best lifestyle decisions I have ever made. There's a lot of counterintuitive physics at play in Tennis and so it appeals to the somewhat geekier side of me. Lessons really help because the coach gives some meaningful tips totally unrelated to the sport - like having very high mental confidence when you enter a shot. This proved to be life changing for me. Like most HN readers, I do suffer from the imposter syndrome and generally it's hard to be very high on energy and self confidence (despite what one may call a very blessed life) and such tips really help in boosting your morale and confidence.

Tennis or a sport like Tennis is helpful in tiding over failures, because it's really hard to get a shot right consistently and when you do it, it's an immense morale boost coupled by the dopamine rush from the physical exertion. For someone like me, who keeps attempting at iterating on ideas and who easily gives up, such confidence boosters are proving to be super helpful.

Something similar is applicable to competitive swimming also. Lots of counter intuitive physics at play. The human body is not designed for survival in/on water by design. So you have to fight the basic design in order to move efficiently in water. So this is also very frustrating until you get it right and when you get it right, boy the feeling of elation is unparalleled. Then you continue upping your game - increase speed, distance whatever.

Playing such a sport and especially taking lessons have been more helpful to me than lifting weights in the gym. I do enjoy lifting weights and I do hit the gym because now it's a necessity to play tennis, but on a comparative scale, playing tennis is far more gratifying.