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Apr 28, 2026

Does Exercise Make You Smarter? What Exercise and Collagen Really Do for You

It’s one of those topics where we all kind of know what the right thing to do is. Move more. Get outside more often. Finally start exercising again. And yet, all too often, the couch wins out. Our inner sloth is sitting comfortably, and the to-do list is long.
But what actually happens when you start moving? What does exercise do to your body, your mind, your mood? And why is yoga alone simply not enough once you hit 40? Here are the answers.

Baby Steps: Just Get Started

The most common mistake: trying to do too much at once. New clothes, new shoes, total euphoria—and six weeks later, the momentum is gone. Who hasn’t been there? Every January, thousands sign up at the gym. By April, many are just paying the membership fee.The better way: a real micro-workout. 20 minutes on the treadmill, four or five exercises on the machines, done. No pressure, no need for perfection. Just get into the swing of things. And if you’re hesitant about the gym: no one there really looks down on you. Everyone’s happy you’re there.Even better: bring a friend. People who work out in pairs are less likely to skip a session. The social aspect is underrated—and it works.

Three times a week. That’s really enough.

How often do you have to work out to feel a difference? The answer is delightfully simple: three times a week, one hour each time. Anything less is wellness; anything more is a bonus.

And what about the excuse, “I don’t have time”? If you can spend an hour scrolling through Instagram in the evening, you have that hour. Especially when your daily life is busy, the kids are around, and work is demanding—that’s when an hour of exercise isn’t just a given, but an act of self-care. An hour where you put your phone away and just be yourself can make a big difference.

After 40, strength training is more important than ever

This is where things get serious—but important. After 40, the body begins to lose muscle mass. Hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and the little testosterone we have—decline, and metabolism slows down. Yoga is great, no question. But it’s not enough.

If you want to stay flexible, stable, and fit in the long term, you need strength training. Not for the mirror, but for your bones, joints, and to prevent falls. Bones have their own metabolism that needs to be stimulated. Tendons, ligaments, fascia. All of these need stress to remain resilient.

Those who train today are investing in their mobility tomorrow. And in the ability to jump again eleven weeks after knee surgery. Because the muscles are simply there to support the joint.

Exercise Makes You Smarter – Really

Here’s the part that surprises many people. Exercise actually makes you smarter. Not as a metaphor, but neurobiologically.

During exercise, myokines are released. These are signaling molecules produced by skeletal muscle that have been shown to have antidepressant effects and influence hormone balance. This explains that special feeling after a workout: calm, content, and clear-headed. Anyone who’s experienced it knows exactly what we’re talking about. Anyone who hasn’t doesn’t know what they’re missing. Add to that neuroplasticity: the interaction between the brain and muscles during exercise strengthens neural connections. Exercise keeps the brain fit—and that’s not just a motivational slogan, but science.

Collagen: What Your Connective Tissue Has to Do with Exercise

Exercise puts strain not only on muscles, but also on tendons, ligaments, and fascia. This is precisely where collagen, as the most important structural protein of connective tissue, comes into play. So, if you exercise regularly, you’re doing your body a double favor by also focusing on the regeneration of these structures. Collagen supplements aren’t a miracle cure, but they are a routine building block for anyone who has already firmly integrated exercise into their daily life. For example, try our Original collagen powder with vitamin C or the Collagen Intensive and incorporate a glow moment into your workout routine.

Motivation is good. Discipline is better.

At some point, motivation wanes. That’s normal and not a sign of weakness. What matters then is discipline. And that can be trained just like a muscle.

A trick that works: outsmarting yourself. On your way home, just drive past the gym. Don’t think, don’t hesitate—just pull in. Once you’re there, you’ll go inside. The trick is to skip the moment of hesitation.

And clear goals help. Not a vague “I want to get fitter,” but something very specific. A half-marathon. Three pull-ups by the end of the year. When you have a real goal, you train differently. And in the end, you experience something no Instagram post can replace: the feeling of having proven to yourself that you can do it.

Staying young has nothing to do with wrinkles

How can you tell if someone is young? Not by their face. But by how they move. By their body tension, their posture, their energy. People who move radiate that—at any age. It’s important that we welcome every stage of life with open arms while also doing something for ourselves. An exercise routine is perfect for this. Pro-aging instead of anti-aging is the motto!

Going to the gym four times a week at 79—that’s not an exception; it’s the result of a life in motion. And it shows: Your entire life in old age stands or falls with mobility.

Things you can take away

Now you know what exercise really does. Then start here:

Start small. 20 minutes is enough. Really. No pressure, no need for perfection—just get started.
Schedule it three times a week. Not as an option, but as a fixed appointment. For you.
Don’t forget strength training. Especially after 40, it’s the most important thing you can do for your body.
Collagen during exercise: Incorporate collagen into your routine as a moment of mindfulness

And then: stick with it. Not because it’s always fun. But because the feeling afterward is indescribable.

Want more? Glow Up Your Life!

If you’d like to dive deeper into this topic, be sure to listen to the latest episode of Glow Up Your Life “Does Exercise Make You Smarter?” and incorporate a Glow moment into your workout routine. Check it out. There, Katja Burkardt speaks openly and warmly with Markus Kalz about getting started with exercise, motivation, nutrition—and why women in midlife are the most grateful training partners.

Who is Markus Kalz? Markus is a personal trainer with many years of experience—and someone who knows exactly what people really need to stay fit in the long term. He has been training with Katja for over ten years, knows her strengths and her limits, and knows how to run 18 kilometers even when it’s 36 degrees in the summer. His passion lies above all with women in midlife. Because, as he says, they know what they want. And then they follow through on it. You can find the episode on all major podcast platforms:

Apr 28, 2026