After a bout of exercise, it's common for people to report that they seem to think a bit more clearly, and even be more creative. Scientific American explains exactly why we think this is. When you exercise, you increase your blood pressure and blood flow throughout the body. This includes the brain, so when you exercise your brain gets more energy and more oxygen. That's not all though. As Scientific American points out, it's also about longer term effects:It makes sense when you think about it, and certainly echoes ideas we've heard before about boosting creativity with a walk or just a little exercise. Why Do I think Better After I Exercise? | Scientific AmericanPhoto by Tobyotter.Another explanation for why working up a sweat enhances our mental capacity is that the hippocampus, a part of the brain critical for learning and memory, is highly active during exercise. When the neurons in this structure rev up, research shows that our cognitive function improves. For instance, studies in mice have revealed that running enhances spatial learning. Other recent work indicates that aerobic exercise can actually reverse hippocampal shrinkage, which occurs naturally with age, and consequently boost memory in older adults. Yet another study found that students who exercise perform better on tests than their less athletic peers.
Getting that precise, straight line on edges of a wall or where the wall meets ceiling is one of the hardest parts of painting. It's even worse if you have textured walls or ceilings. The Make It & Love It blog reveals this "pro painter's secret" to sharp lines perfection.Actually, Ashley posts two methods. The first, her preferred method, is one we've mentioned before. It's the error-free method of painting a ceiling and wall or two walls different colors. Tape the edges where the two walls (or wall and ceiling connect), then paint the first wall right over the tape and into the other (still unpainted) wall and let it dry. The dried paint prevents the other paint from seeping under the tape.The second method is useful if your ceiling or other wall is already painted and you just want to paint one wall. Tape the edges, but also apply a line of paintable caulk into the edge of the tape. Smooth the caulk out with your finger, paint over the caulk and tape, and pull off the tape before the caulk tries.