By Tess Pajaron
There is an array of ways that exercise is beneficial, and this is especially true when it comes to college students. And while it can be difficult to find time for exercise between classes and homework, it is well-worth the effort. Here are 5 ways regular exercise benefits college students.
Improves Memory
Research has shown that memory begins to decrease in people as young as twenty years old, and this progresses as we age. However, it is well-known that exercise can help improve memory and even prevent memory loss. It is for this reason that college students should fit exercise into their schedule. After all, when you are trying to learn new disciplines you will need to make sure that your memory is functioning at the highest level possible.
Increases Focus
Maintaining focus during class is vital to the learning process and without the proper level of attention grades can slip. Fortunately for college students, exercising regularly will help the brain to stay more focused. In fact, studies have shown that even light exercise, such as a twenty-minute bike ride, can actually help relieve the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and similar learning disabilities. This goes a long way in showing how powerful exercise can be in staying focused.
Improves Mood
When you are in college, having the proper mindset is crucial to success and exercising can actually improve one’s mood. There are certain chemicals that are produced by the brain that affect our mood, such as dopamine and serotonin, and exercising helps to promote the release of these chemicals, which leads to an improved mood. And while maintaining high grades is important in college, so is meeting new friends, and there is a greater chance of being sociable when your mood is right.
Relieves Stress
It is no secret that stress can cause us to lose focus on the things that are most important to us, and for college students stress can be especially problematic. Similar to improving mood, exercise will reduce the amount of stress that the brain perceives by releasing natural stress fighting chemicals, which can help ease the mind. If you are attending a university and feel that you are becoming stressed for any reason, consider going for a short jog or a bicycle ride, and you will certainly feel stress levels begin to subside.
Promotes Brain Development
There is perhaps no greater benefit of exercise for college students than its ability to promote brain cell development. Exercise is noted for increasing the number of neurons, or braincells, and this bodes well for those in an environment where higher learning is taking place. Not only does exercise help in brain development, but it also increases the flexibility at which our brains access information. In laboratory tests on mice, this flexibility has been shown to improve the ability of mice in solving mazes and other cognitive tests.
College is often regarded as one of the most important steps in a person’s life, and therefore it is necessary that students are able to function at the highest level possible. To increase the potential of students while in college it is recommended that they exercise regularly. Exercising will help to increase the level of focus within the brain, while at the same time, drastically improving one’s mood. In addition, staying active will lower the amount of stress that the brain perceives and this is vital in limiting external distractions. Furthermore, exercise promotes brain development by allowing for added flexibility and thus improving cognitive processes. If you are a student in college, keep in mind these 5 ways that regular exercise will be beneficial.
– With a background in business administration and management, Tess Pajaron currently works at Open Colleges, Australia’s leading online educator. She likes to cover stories in careers and marketing.