Exercising benefits for college students

Hey there,

As a student, it’s not always easy to keep in shape. Sometimes, keeping active goes on the backburner.

For example, you might have discovered the joys of partying. You also might spend most of your days studying at your desk. Maybe you just don’t have a gym buddy.

In this installment of After Class, I’ll tell you everything (well, maybe not everything) about why you shouldn’t forego regular exercise while in college.

It all comes down to what I call Triangle Theory of Exercise (I could add a little ™ to that).

Basically physical activity yields Physical, Mental and Social benefits/advantages. Those are the 3 points of your triangle.

Physical and Mental benefits build on each other. So do Mental and Social, and Physical and Social. Those are the 3 sides of your triangle.

Those interactions increase your well-being which in turn boosts your academic achievements.

Now let’s dive into the 3 points of the triangle.

Physical Benefits:

Regular exercise improves cardiovascular health by strengthening your heart and improving blood circulation, reducing the risk of heart diseases and high blood pressure.

It helps build stronger muscles and promotes healthy bone development.

(reminder : you stop growing at about 25 years of age)

Additionally, regular exercise increases flexibility and mobility, which can prevent injuries and enhance physical performance.

Engaging in physical activity also aids in weight management, as it helps burn calories and improves metabolism, reducing the risk of obesity and related health issues.

Lastly, regular exercise supports a healthy immune system, reducing the risk of common illnesses.

Mental Benefits:

Exercise has a positive impact on concentration and focus by increasing blood flow to the brain, enhancing cognitive function, and facilitating better absorption and retention of information.

Moreover, exercise is a natural stress reliever as it stimulates the production of endorphins, the brain's natural mood elevators.

Regular physical activity can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting overall mental well-being.

It also contributes to enhanced memory and learning capabilities, as it promotes the growth of new brain cells and strengthens the connections between existing cells.

Increased energy levels resulting from exercise further support cognitive function, enabling you to stay alert and focused throughout the day.

Additionally, exercise helps regulate sleep patterns, leading to better quality sleep which is essential for cognitive function, memory consolidation, and overall mental health.

Exercise also promotes a positive mood, improves self-esteem, and helps you manage stress effectively.

Social Benefits:

(no, not that kind of social benefits)

Engaging in physical activity provides you with opportunities to interact with other students outside of class.

That’s how you make friends.

Participating in team sports or group exercise activities promotes teamwork, cooperation, and leadership skills, while cultivating strong relationships with teammates.

Let’s put it all together

Your psyche, your body and your environment are closely linked.

When you’re feeling down for a while, you’ll soon start to feel various aches and heaviness and stiffness and all kinds of ickiness all over your body.

Similarly, being out-of-shape will make you less happy, drive up anxiety and keep your mood down (scientists are still deciphering all the various pathways and mechanisms that make it so. Very interesting stuff).

Our mood and fitness have a noticeable impact on our social attractiveness.

We all know that all other things being equal (other things being smarts, niceness etc), happy and fit people get more friends and have more fun.

And in turn, looking good in front of our friends motivates us to keep exercising even when we’d rather be lounging on our couch.

(those friends can become gym buddies, too).

At the end of the day, there’s no reason not to exercise.

It’ll make studying easier, too.

See you,

After Class