With just three weeks left of school, many of us are daydreaming and counting the days to summer break. There is just one thing standing in the way between you and those poolside selfies – final exams. These exams are the culmination of all that you have put your mind to this semester. The library is open 24 hours, but studying is only one piece of doing well on your finals.
Did you know that physical movement can enhance mental clarity? It’s scientifically proven.
One moderating factor of a fluid mind is a healthy body. You may be surprised to know that Aristotle, the famous philosopher, made it a requirement that all his students did physical training with the wrestlers and Olympic athletes of the time. It wasn’t until later that his understanding of this integration of mental and physical discipline was substantiated by science.
Not only does regular physical exercise increase your self-confidence levels, but it positively influences academic performance, mood, stress, and sleep habits as well. No single drug can do all those things. It really is amazing, when you think about the power of physical movement.
You are probably saying, “Andrew, are you telling me that cardio can help me remember words for my Spanish class?” Yes. Yes I am. In an experiment on foreign word recollection it was shown that just one 30-minute bout of high-intensity cycling activity increased the memorization function of college students’ brains 24 hours after learning, compared to the group that did not exercise.
As it comes to academic performance, memory is not the only aspect that is improved. In a meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials out of Duke University, it was found that aerobic exercise (exercise that gets the heart pumping for an extended period) is associated with modest improvements in attention span and processing speed, executive function, and memory.
With all the technology that I have at my fingertips, I know that I could certainly use a little “improvement in attention span.” Anyone else? Though modest effects were seen, this also means that problem solving skills for math and word processing speed while reading is going to increase when you find the exercise that you enjoy and make into a regular practice. Finally, you won’t feel that mental fog that can cloud your thought and mental focus!
College can be such a stressful time as we are still getting acclimated to being adults, balancing work, school, and oh yeah, a social life. Physical activity can decrease stress levels and regulate mood. Commonly, when you are less stressed and able to control your emotions, you are provided with new spurts of productivity! On top of that, physical activity is beneficial to the quantity and quality of sleep that you get. All arrows are pointing to high performance on your final exams.
College is a time when you hone in on who you are and set habits that will determine your future. This is why it is such a vital time to begin trying to create healthy habits that you enjoy doing. By developing an active lifestyle now, you are setting yourself up for a long and fulfilling life. So move your body because it reduces stress and anxiety, and may help improve your test scores. Oh, and of course there’s the reduced risk of life-threatening disease piece, but, meh, we’re all invincible, right?
At UCAN, we’re all about life balance and we all know there’s much more to life then killing it on your final exams. But the benefits of being active are endless, helping mind, body, and soul. And you don’t have to do as much as you think to reap those benefits. So before you run with the “I’m too busy to be active” internal dialogue, remember that it may be just what you need.
If you are looking for a place to start with a fun movement practice here are a few useful tips:
- Make sure you enjoy the movement
- Seek social support
- Plan out your activity, be intentional, and think through possible barriers that you can overcome
- See a UCAN health coach to walk away with a plan that works for you
This week, UCAN is putting on a fun Instagram challenge and raffle. If you are looking for a place to start with your movement practice, are lost for new exercises, or just want to have some fun and participate in the movement, follow our Instagram page @nauhealthcoach and the #UCANFIT5 challenge. Each day, Monday-Friday, a health coach will lead you through 5-minutes of bodyweight exercises designed to get you feeling good! No equipment necessary, well except for your backpack! If you post a video of you doing the exercises that are displayed on our page, you will be entered in a raffle for a $25 REI gift card! One exercise equals one entry, so three exercises for five days, and you can get 15 entries!
