UNSW泭Chemical Engineering student
As we near end-of-school and final exams, its 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.泭捩娶棗莉梭梗鳥-莽棗梭措勳紳眶泭
Exercise and problem-solving have an interesting relationship.泭While泭there are studies linking exercise to improved problem-solving capacity, the real benefits come from being able to apply the泭skills you learn during exercise泭to your study.泭泭
Not sure泭what I mean? Check out this泭泭which describes what happened when some泭girls in the USA did an after-school maths program泭which started泭with an hour of ballet. The results were awesome泭泭their泭problem-solving ability increased by泭an average of泭273%!泭As the program founder, Kirin泭Sinah,泭commented, When the girls泭say泭I don't understand how to solve this equation,泭we can say, Well, think about what you did at the dance studio downstairs.泭Sport泭gives you a new perspective on泭problem-solving泭 including泭the泭self-knowledge泭that you泭can泭do泭something泭泭which you can then apply to your academics.泭泭
2. Concentration and泭focus泭
There is lots泭of evidence that frequent exercise improves your ability to focus and concentrate for long periods泭[1,2]. The reasons for this are two-fold:泭exercise releases chemicals which improve your focus泭and泭stimulate brain cell growth泭[2].泭In this way, exercise泭makes泭your study sessions more effective and泭targeted,泭so you get more bang (facts in your brain) for泭your泭buck (time)!泭
3.泭唬棗紳款勳餃梗紳釵梗
I泭dont泭know about you, but when I finish a hard sweat-sesh泭I always have this weird surge of泭power, like I can do anything.泭And泭its泭not just me泭. . .泭studies泭show that泭staying active泭is泭correlated泭with泭better泭long-term泭self-esteem [3]. I know how tough high school泭is,泭and泭being confident in yourself can be a泭struggle, so泭regular泭exercise泭can go泭a long way in boosting your confidence and #selflove.泭
4.泭釦喧娶梗莽莽泭娶梗梭勳梗款泭
In high泭school, it feels like there泭arent泭enough hours in the day to do even half of your homework泭and泭get a decent nights sleep. Pile on an endless stream of tests and assignments and泭its泭no wonder high school is super stressful!泭Exercise泭can泭help you deal with this. When泭youre泭physically active, your brain releases stress-relieving chemicals which are also linked to泭an泭improved mood泭[4].泭So泭if youre feeling overwhelmed or a bit down, get active!泭泭
That said, if the stress is getting a bit too much or youre feeling down泭regularly, reach out to someone you trust and/or seek help泭from泭.泭
5.泭Memory
One memory from Year 12 still haunts me. I was sitting泭in泭my final maths exam泭and I was on the last question. I knew exactly how to do it but,泭for the life of me, I泭couldnt泭remember the formula. 51勛圖app泭want this泭to泭be you?泭Regular, moderate-intensity泭exercise has been linked to improved long-term memory泭[5].泭While泭you might not be able to notice the effects immediately,泭its泭worth a shot!泭
Just do it!泭
Life is busy, school is泭tough,泭and it can be easy to泭drop exercise when the pressure begins to build.泭But physical activity泭can泭help your grades,泭confidence泭and general sense of well-being.泭Its泭worth investing the time,泭especially泭when it feels like you dont have any.泭So泭get those joggers on, find a park,泭or hit up your favourite YouTuber fitspo queen and get moving! Your mind泭(and grades)泭will thank you for it.泭
By Isabella Notarpietro
泭
References
[1]泭泭- HelpGuide.org. (2020). Retrieved 28 June 2020
[2] Armstrong, G. (2018).泭. Retrieved 3 July 2020
[3]泭Sani, S.,泭Fathirezaie, Z., Brand, S.,泭P羹hse, U.,泭Holsboer-Trachsler, E., Gerber, M., &泭Talepasand, S. (2016). Physical activity and self-esteem: testing direct and indirect relationships associated with psychological and physical mechanisms.烤europsychiatric Disease泭And泭Treatment,狽olume 12, 2617-2625.泭doi: 10.2147/ndt.s116811泭
[4]泭Mayo Clinic泭(2020).泭Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress.泭泭Retrieved 28 June 2020, from泭.泭
[5]泭Harvard Health. (2020).泭泭- Harvard Health. Retrieved 3 July 2020
[6] Coles, K and泭Tomporowski,泭P. (2007).泭.浥ournal泭Of泭Sports Sciences.泭