Learning (particularly during exam times) Performance can be stressful to our body. Our endurance is worn out as we sit in the same position, get stressed, anxious, and tired of it after several hours.
But ever wanted to think that a small exercise can cause a great change to your exam results?
A few years back when I began exercising, I came to understand that exercise is more of a tonic both to the body and the mind. Although I am not that fit any more, compared to those days, the habit of remaining active caught on.
When I started subsequent preparations of exams, there was fear of my exercise practice being interfered with. But I promised myself that I would find a solution – and that is the experience I am sharing with you today.
Exercise makes you smarter
It is an idea that is held by many people that studying and exercise are not two things. However, in practice, working out boosts the power of the brain. Blood flow in the body becomes faster when we exercise and this oxygenated blood is carried to the brain. This improves our thinking ability, memory, and focus.
According to a study (Chang and Etnier, 2009), moderate level exercise improves working memory and cognitive flexibility, while intense exercise increases the speed of processing information.
This implies that exercise does not only make your body to be sharp, but also your mind.
Regular exercises will de-stress you out and you will be relaxed
During the study period, stress and nervousness are a common occurrence with exams being around. But if you want your mind to remain calm and you can think steadily, then exercise is a wonderful solution.
Scientists at Princeton University found in a research that rats who ran regularly responded better to stressful situations and returned to normal quickly.
During exercise, new and active neurons are formed in our brain, which helps in balancing the mental state. This makes you feel calm, composed and in control.
Working out brings about a sense of happiness
Did you realize that endorphin is a hormone that helps the body to cope with pain by the natural reduction of pain while in the process of working out?
This is the very hormone, as the result of which, you feel good and happy inside. Whenever you feel bored, irritated or frustrated under the pressure of exams, exercise can act as a natural anti-depressant to you.
Activities such as sprinting, high weight training, or intense cardio require endorphins to grow in minutes. And it has no side effects either!
Exercise improves memory and focus
You must have noticed that many times we are in front of the book, but the mind wanders somewhere else. Regular exercise is very effective in improving this situation.
A study by Dartmouth College found that people who exercise regularly perform better if they do light exercises before doing any mental work.
Even a 20-minute walk before an exam can improve your score – and this applies to students who are not fit.
Now the question arises – “When do we exercise when we are so busy?”
The answer is – you don’t need to go to the gym!
You just need to make some small changes in your routine:
How to exercise in an easy way – without going to the gym
- Start walking while commuting: If you come by train, get off one station earlier and walk the rest of the way. If you come by car, park in a far-off parking lot.
- Choose stairs instead of lift: To climb two-three floors in office or college, use stairs instead of lift.
- If it is close, then go on foot: If your destination is 10-15 minutes away, then go there on foot. Do not use the car for small tasks.
- Use a step tracker: Track your steps on your phone or physical activity device. This will make you feel motivated.
- Take breaks while walking: After every 1 hour of study, take a 5-minute walk. This will also give rest to your eyes and mind.
- Walking is important, not TV: If you have some precious time spare, go out for a long walk instead of sitting before the screen watching a movie.Discover nearby parks, streets and new places.
- Travel by bicycle: If you have a bicycle, then use it to go to office or tuition. This is an easy, cheap and a way to stay fit.
conclusion
Putting the entire subject into a nutshell, it is even apparent that exercise not only enhances your physical health, but it also significantly contributes in your performance in the mind. Working out not only adds activity to our brain but also adds thinking capacity and we can study smarter. Along with this, regular exercise reduces the stress level which reduces the fear of exams and enables us to think and answer with a more calm mind.
