Exercise and Reducing Stress
Article contributed by Kelly Tatum
Exercise is an important part of feeling good and dealing with life’s challenges. Exercise can help and play an important role for functioning optimally both mentally and physically. Incorporating some form of exercise into your daily routine has many health benefits. Exercise may reduce anxiety. Anxiety, especially in college students may interfere with sleep and concentration. Exercise can reduce anxiety and produces a relaxation effect and well being that can last up to four hours after a workout. Exercise refreshes your mind and makes you ready to tackle the work ahead. For college students, a well planned exercise program can enhance performance and the enjoyment of school and personal activities. Exercise can reduce depression, enhance self-esteem, and relieve anxiety. Lowers blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, ideal for losing weight, and helps to reduce stress. Activities that allow your muscles to relax or that expend large amounts of physical energy can reduce stress. Controlling stress is an important part of success in school. Choose activities that you enjoy, having friends to work out with you, and finding spare time to workout will help reduce stress. Instead of reaching for the junk food while studying hit the gym for a little while, take a break from the paper or from studying for that big test. College life will be more rewarding if you learn to work in healthy habit into your routine. Some of your money goes to paying gym fees so take advantage of it.