So in this post I want to talk about a topic that many people do not connect to mental health. And the topic is that of fitness… Now, fitness is not all about going to the gym and lifting heavy weights or spending an hour on the treadmill or elliptical. Fitness could be anything from going on a 10 min walk or throwing around a football or frisbee with friends. Anything that gets you up and moving is fitness and has great benefits to your physical and mental health. Now you’re probably wondering why I am talking about this on a blog about academic struggles. For me I saw a huge benefit in just taking time to rejuvenate my body by exercising and I believe it can help you to. There are a few reasons why fitness and being active can help your mental health and academic work.
- Stress Reduction
One of the most common mental benefits of exercise is stress relief. Working up a sweat can help manage physical and mental stress. Exercise also increases concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that can moderate the brain’s response to stress.
- Improve Confidence
As you get your body moving you will feel less stressed, but you also will feel better physically. Your body is made to move, and when you do move, your body will respond favorably. This, in turn, will boost your confidence and that spills over to other areas in your life as well.
- Alleviates Anxiety
For me, this was one of the biggest things I gained from starting to move and focus more on my fitness. Regular morning workouts kept my anxiety level down during the day. Another way in which it helped me also was while I was studying. While there were a few times I would stop studying and push out a quick workout, even just getting up for 5-10 minutes and taking a walk outside can help you calm down, re-focus, and even re-energize a little. Another thing I did when I had some time before an exam, was go for a 10 minute walk just let my mind wander and it really helped.
I hope that I have made the argument that fitness and moving around can drastically help you in academic ways as well. Whether you go to any of the quad gyms or just gather a few friends and spend some time outside, I hope you will feel better physically and mentally, as well as see changes in your confidence and academic performance. Do what you need to do, then do whatever is possible, and soon you will find yourself doing the impossible. As always stay awesome, and keep keeping it real.
About the Author:
Lee M. Class of 2017 | Transfer Major: Communication and English Blog Theme: Struggling on the Pathway to Success - Thoughts of C Average Student
Please Note: The views of our student bloggers do not necessarily reflect the views of the UAlbany Advisement Services Center. These are their stories and their voices.
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