国民彩票听Chemical Engineering student
As we near end-of-school and final exams, it鈥檚 easy to get overwhelmed with study and neglect other aspects of life. Exercise is one of the easiest things to drop, especially thanks to COVID-19 and the fact that most sports seasons end when exams begin.
But did you know that exercise can actually help you perform better in exams (and school generally)?
Here are five reasons why you should prioritise exercise when things get busy!
1.听笔谤辞产濒别尘-蝉辞濒惫颈苍驳听
Exercise and problem-solving have an interesting relationship.听While听there are studies linking exercise to improved problem-solving capacity, the real benefits come from being able to apply the听skills you learn during exercise听to your study.听听
Not sure听what I mean? Check out this听听which describes what happened when some听girls in the USA did an after-school maths program听which started听with an hour of ballet. The results were awesome听鈥撎齮heir听problem-solving ability increased by听an average of听273%!听As the program founder, Kirin听Sinah,听commented, 鈥榃hen the girls听say听鈥淚 don't understand how to solve this equation鈥,听we can say, 鈥淲ell, think about what you did at the dance studio downstairs.鈥濃櫶齋port听gives you a new perspective on听problem-solving听鈥 including听the听self-knowledge听that you听can听do听something听鈥撎齱hich you can then apply to your academics.听听
2. Concentration and听focus听
There is lots听of evidence that frequent exercise improves your ability to focus and concentrate for long periods听[1,2]. The reasons for this are two-fold:听exercise releases chemicals which improve your focus听and听stimulate brain cell growth听[2].听In this way, exercise听makes听your study sessions more effective and听targeted,听so you get more bang (facts in your brain) for听your听buck (time)!听
3.听颁辞苍蹿颈诲别苍肠别
I听don鈥檛听know about you, but when I finish a hard sweat-sesh听I always have this weird surge of听power, like I can do anything.听And听it鈥檚听not just me听. . .听studies听show that听staying active听is听correlated听with听better听long-term听self-esteem [3]. I know how tough high school听is,听and听being confident in yourself can be a听struggle, so听regular听exercise听can go听a long way in boosting your confidence and #selflove.听
4.听厂迟谤别蝉蝉听谤别濒颈别蹿听
In high听school, it feels like there听aren鈥檛听enough hours in the day to do even half of your homework听and听get a decent night鈥檚 sleep. Pile on an endless stream of tests and assignments and听it鈥檚听no wonder high school is super stressful!听Exercise听can听help you deal with this. When听you鈥檙e听physically active, your brain releases stress-relieving chemicals which are also linked to听an听improved mood听[4].听So听if you鈥檙e feeling overwhelmed or a bit down, get active!听听
That said, if the stress is getting a bit too much or you鈥檙e feeling down听regularly, reach out to someone you trust and/or seek help听from听.听
5.听Memory
One memory from Year 12 still haunts me. I was sitting听in听my final maths exam听and I was on the last question. I knew exactly how to do it but,听for the life of me, I听couldn鈥檛听remember the formula. Don鈥檛听want this听to听be you?听Regular, moderate-intensity听exercise has been linked to improved long-term memory听[5].听While听you might not be able to notice the effects immediately,听it鈥檚听worth a shot!听
Just do it!听
Life is busy, school is听tough,听and it can be easy to听drop exercise when the pressure begins to build.听But physical activity听can听help your grades,听confidence听and general sense of well-being.听It鈥檚听worth investing the time,听especially听when it feels like you don鈥檛 have any.听So听get those joggers on, find a park,听or hit up your favourite YouTuber fitspo queen and get moving! Your mind听(and grades)听will thank you for it.听
By Isabella Notarpietro
听
References
[1]听听- HelpGuide.org. (2020). Retrieved 28 June 2020
[2] Armstrong, G. (2018).听. Retrieved 3 July 2020
[3]听Sani, S.,听Fathirezaie, Z., Brand, S.,听P眉hse, U.,听Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Gerber, M., &听Talepasand, S. (2016). Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms.鈥疦europsychiatric Disease听And听Treatment,鈥疺olume 12, 2617-2625.听doi: 10.2147/ndt.s116811听
[4]听Mayo Clinic听(2020).听Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress.听听Retrieved 28 June 2020, from听.听
[5]听Harvard Health. (2020).听听- Harvard Health. Retrieved 3 July 2020
[6] Coles, K and听Tomporowski,听P. (2007).听.鈥疛ournal听Of听Sports Sciences.听