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Benefits
The focus of exercise isn’t based around muscular strength and size, but rather it focuses on promoting general well-being. Consistent amounts of exercise can be a powerful solution to many mental health problems including anxiety, depression, and high stress. College is a trying time for students mentally, and with the highest rates of depression and anxiety across the country, exercise could be used as a crutch to support students through this time.
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Depression
Research shows that exercise can alleviate mild depression as effectively as medication. A study from Harvard University, states that daily exercise, including a short amount of time, can reduce the risk of depression by 26%. The lead author of the study Karmel Choi, says “When it comes to depression, genes are not destiny and that being physically active has the potential to neutralize the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically vulnerable.” This study shows a correlation between depression and exercise habits. When an individual exercise, their brain releases endorphins, which causes natural “feel good” chemicals in the body to be released, causing boost in mood and happiness. Regular exercise promotes brain activity in the hippo campus, which is the part of the brain that regulates memory and learning. Studies show that this activity can promote neurosis, which is neural growth meaning depression could decrease with the development of neurons.
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The importance of working out
Written By: Danny Ngo
The Gym
When someone brings up “working out”, the initial thoughts circulate around physical appearance and the overly muscular guys grunting at the gym. Not as many people think about the mental health benefits of exercise and how the dedication to staying fit could improve the life of an average college student
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Anxiety
Frequent exercise can release stress, while boosting mental energy, through the release of endorphins. By zoning into the exercise, a person practices mindfulness which can temporarily stop the flow of stressors/ worries in thought. Science has proven that physically active people have less anxiety rates than people who aren’t active. This research is important for college students, because there are many external factors that could pressure students on the importance of success and linking self-worth with grades. With this unhealthy connection, it is likely that students can develop anxiety if grades aren’t where the students would like them to be.
General Well-Being
Regular amounts of exercise can be an investment into the body and the mind. Being active can create a sense of self-worth and boost self-esteem. By meeting fitness goals, it is possible to feel a sense of accomplishment. Working out helps you cope with the mental challenges of life in a healthy way, instead of resorting to substance abuse or self-destructive behaviors. Not only this but it can also give the body more energy throughout the day and promotes better sleep.
Healthy Things to Do
Some of the struggles that people have when first getting into exercise, is the combination lack of knowledge and the intimidation of the lifting area. When lifting weights, there can be a few exercises that are beginner friendly that can be researched on such as compound lifts, which are exercises that work out multiple muscle groups and joints simultaneously. For the people who are less inclined to lifting weights, the benefits above can still be achieved through running and any other exercise that gets the heart pumping, including a variety of sports. Many different universities provide recreational activities promoting physical health via classes or programs for things such as yoga, running, kickboxing, or spin. Universities often have recreational buildings or weight rooms that are included with tuition so make use of those and get that exercise to be healthy!
This Could Be YOU!
