Starting a Fitness Routine: Top Reasons to Exercise in College
College students, especially those studying online, have packed schedules. Between studying for exams, attending classes, completing assignments, and going to work, finding space for another obligation can be challenging. However, experts recommend at least three hours of aerobic exercise every week.
According to recent findings, exercise does more than help with weight management. It also offers numerous cognitive and mental health benefits, as highlighted in this article. Read on to find out more about why college students should include exercise in their daily routines.
- Regular Exercise Stimulates Brain Development
Recent studies have shown that exercise alters the makeups of our bodies in different ways. For instance, it has long been held that physical activity reduces the size of fat reserves and increases muscle mass. However, a less evident and even more critical effect of exercise for college students is its relationship with the structure of our brains.
According to experts, exercise can stimulate brain development, preserve neural health, and boost function across life stages. One way in which exercise affects the human brain is through memory.
Studies show that exercising regularly helps guard our memory by stopping the loss of brain mass. It triggers the growth of neural matter in the hippocampus, which is tasked with recollection and learning. Students who work out habitually benefit from healthier cognitive function and perform better in academic tasks.
Exercise also influences our cognitive function through the blood vessels. The human brain depends considerably on blood flow to operate optimally. Working out can help prevent and even reverse the symptoms of hypertension.
- Exercise Boosts Self-Esteem and Supports Mood Regulation
Being physically active provides a sense of clarity and calmness. Some students report improvement in their mood immediately after working out. Over time, you will notice improved feelings of well-being if you sustain a commitment to your exercise routine.
Furthermore, being active makes you feel good about yourself and increases your self-worth. The exercise does not have to be rigorous. Even simple routines like morning jogs can leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more energetic. Some students create time for exercise by choosing to buy term paper help from professionals online.
- Exercise Helps with Weight Management
One of the most renowned benefits of exercise for college students is weight management. According to recent studies, close to 40% of college students in the United States are obese. This is a worrying trend since excessive weight is associated with several health complications, including cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Experts recommend combining exercise and healthy dietary behavior as an effective strategy for losing weight. This is more efficient than relying solely on caloric restriction. Understand that different factors interact to cause a person’s risk of weight gain.
Regular exercise, combined with mindful eating, can help you reach and maintain healthy weight targets while improving your overall wellbeing. Being physically active increases your metabolism =, allowing you to burn more calories during the day. Exercise also helps students maintain and increase their lean body mass, translating to more calories burned daily.
- Regular Workout Helps with Stress Relief
Another benefit of physical activity is that it improves the body’s capacity to utilize oxygen and enhances blood flow. These changes have substantial and direct implications on the human brain. Students who work out are more attentive and can handle tasks faster than their more sedentary counterparts.
Physical activity also helps students fight stress by increasing the production of feel-good hormones called endorphins. The outcome is often a sense of improved well-being and euphoria. In this sense, exercise helps you overcome stress, at least short term.
Also, being physically active keeps you engaged, taking your mind off your worries and stressors. When exercising, people’s repetitive motions focus on their bodily motions instead of their minds. Since you have something else to focus on, you get to realize benefits similar to meditation. The outcome is often improved energy levels and greater optimism.
- Exercise Improves Sleep Quality
Research shows that regular exercise reduces sleep problems and insomnia similar to sleeping pills. We have known that working out helps our minds and bodies for years. What has been less apparent is the connection between sleep and exercise.
Sleep is essential for optimal focus and mental health. According to research, students who get at least seven hours of sleep each night perform better in their studies. This is excellent news since exercise helps people get a good night’s sleep. Exercising helps students fall asleep faster and improves the quality of their slumber.
Regular exercise helps students maintain healthy body weight and perform better in tests. It boosts focus and concentration, making people feel good about themselves and complete tasks faster. Making physical activity a routine also helps you establish healthy lifelong habits.