Classes, homework, extra-curricular activities and making time for family and friends can keep a student’s schedule pretty full.
Making time to exercise may not be a priority during midterms and exams; however, it does serve to benefit the mind and body exponentially and could even boost those test scores.
Michigan State University conducted a research that found a connection between exercise and higher GPAs, as reported by Medical Daily. The study even showed that those who had a gym membership were less likely to drop out of college. Joining a gym not only provided students with an opportunity to acquire many mental and physical health benefits, but also gave them a chance to form relationships with others and, in turn, increase their link to the college.
Psychology Today reports that regular exercise decreases depression and anxiety and boosts the mood overall. Heavy exercise increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which is a chemical that makes people feel happy and relaxed. It also keeps the mind sharp and aids preventing future memory loss, which starts to happen significantly at the age of 45.
Complicated exercises like dancing or playing a sport improve student’s ability to concentrate. U.S. News reported that German researchers concluded that students who did just ten minutes of an intense fitness routine score better on “high-attention tasks” than those who did not participate in the fitness routine. This is because sports challenge the brain to grow through completing complicated tasks. This new cell growth in the brain then carries over to the classroom where students apply their ability to problem solve and perform better under pressure.
Exercise has many benefits for students other than keeping a nice figure. It keeps the mind sharp and focused and also relieves stress and depression. Students should acquire a fitness regimen and mix it up by cross training and playing sports in order to receive the most benefits from exercise. Fitness should not be seen as an end to make or break a students ability to graduate college, but it does make the road to a degree a little bit smoother.
By Katelyn Turner
