For college students, College life brings new challenges. Classes, work, extracurriculars — schedules fill up fast. With so many demands, exercise frequently takes a back seat. Unfortunately, nearly half of students become inactive.
This inactivity stems from newfound independence. Managing your health gets overwhelming when you’re on your own. For example, 40% of students face depression, while 60% report increased stress and anxiety. It’s no surprise most agree they could use therapy.
If your campus offers counseling, take advantage! But another excellent resource boosts overall wellness: exercise.
Top Benefits:
Physical Health – Exercise improves brain/gut health, reducing disease risk while boosting mood, energy, sleep quality, etc.
Strength – Even 30 minutes of strength training weekly builds functional fitness for carrying heavy loads.
Confidence – When your body feels good, you feel good too. Working out increases self-assurance.
Mental Health – The transition to adulthood is immensely stressful. Exercise significantly elevates mental health during this pivotal time.
Improved Mood – Hello, endorphins! These mood-boosting hormones kick in minutes after starting a workout.
Reduced Stress – Hitting the gym provides near-instant stress relief — crucial during midterms/finals.
Stability – Managing stress builds resilience when facing setbacks like poor grades or switching majors.
Better Grades – Physical activity improves academic performance, just as sports boosted high school GPAs.
So why don’t more students exercise? Time management poses the biggest hurdle when juggling newfound freedom and responsibilities.
But even without a fancy campus gym, building an exercise habit is possible:
- Stretch during study breaks instead of sitting still.
- Bike or walk further to class instead of driving.
- Listen to lectures while hiking nearby trails.
The key is finding what works with your schedule. While over exercising risks injury or burnout, balanced physical activity offers immense benefits for college students’ health and success.
