For students starting to feel the weight of their courseload on their shoulders, regular exercise can be a complete game changer.
As the school year ramps up and workloads become more intense, students often experience higher levels of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there’s an effective way to manage these pressures. Incorporating physical activity into your routine can significantly enhance your mental well-being and help you navigate academic challenges with greater ease.
Taking time to pause from your studies and decompress is essential in university life. Remember, your work will be at its best when you allow your mind to rest. Balancing physical activity with a packed schedule of assignments, lectures and seminars can feel challenging — especially with winter weather approaching. However, finding even just 20 minutes a day for exercise can bring a sense of tranquility to the constant rush of student life.
The connection between exercise and mental health is straightforward. Physical activity releases feel- good chemicals in your brain, known as endorphins, which can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, boost your mood, and enhance your overall sense of well-being.
One of the trickiest parts of adding exercise to your routine is finding an activity you genuinely enjoy, one that makes it easier to step back from the chaos of everyday life. To encourage fellow Badgers, I reached out to nursing student Tiana Barrett to share her experiences with exercise and its impact on her mental health.
“As a nursing major, I have extremely long hours between classes, clinicals and all the additional homework and memorization that I must do, and it feels like every year there is more and more,” said Barrett. It’s important to recognize that constant mental effort can contribute to increased stress levels, which may affect both mental and emotional well-being, creating a cycle of pressure.
“There are so many different activities that I do to help myself de-stress and to reset my mind. The big one, and [a] super easy form of exercise that I use to help myself de-stress, is going for a walk. Especially in the evening, taking a break away from all the pent-up stress and energy in my room and on-campus helps me relax and is a nice refresh for my mind,” said Barrett.
Simple activities like walking and meditation can help your brain release feel-good chemicals offering a chance to unwind.
“I find that it cleanses out a lot of my stress, and my feeling of being overwhelmed,” said Barrett. “Ever since I started my daily walks, I have really seen an improvement in how I feel. My mind feels much clearer, and I feel prepared to go back to whatever I was doing with a new outlook. I think that the exercise aspect of my walks helps my brain to slow down and not worry about whatever else I must do when I get back home and just focus on being present in the moment.”
Well, Brock students, you heard it from a fellow Badger: exercise plays a fundamental part in uplifting your mental health. It helps you stay present, clear your mind, and reflect. Taking time for yourself is often under-practiced, but it’s needed for maintaining your best self and succeeding academically.
Don’t take this opportunity for granted. Prioritize your well-being to excel in all aspects of your life, stay active, stay balanced and thrive.
