Photo Credit: Danielle Cerullo via Unsplash
How working out in the gym will help you work harder in the classroom
Arib Hassam, Staff Writer
Most of my friends will tell you that I am quite the gym addict, and they are right. In a typical week, I will usually hit the gym 5-6 times to lift weights. Working out regularly has not only improved my physical health, but has also had significant benefits to my mental health and overall well-being.
First and foremost, if you are struggling to find the time to be active during your week, I would highly recommend trying to schedule your workouts first thing in the morning. Going into this school year, I was slightly nervous as I did not know if I would have time to get my daily workouts done. Last year, with asynchronous recorded lectures, I was able to get away with scheduling my gym sessions in the late morning or early afternoon. However, this year, I have Spanish every morning from 10-11 am so that was no longer an option. My solution, you might ask? I have been waking up at 7 am and heading to the Athletic Centre before my classes. While this does involve going to bed earlier and waking up annoyingly early, it is definitely a plausible solution that I have successfully implemented in my life during these first few weeks of classes.
Another option to consider if you cannot devote large chunks of your time for a proper workout is to separate your activity periods into smaller intervals. For example, if you have allocated a few hours of your time to studying for a midterm then, perhaps, you could take a 5-10 minute break each hour and go for a brisk walk outside or do a few push-ups or crunches. Not only will this aid you in focusing and studying more effectively, but you will also be decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as reducing any other risks and negative impacts that come with sitting down for extended periods.
Ultimately, it is important to find ways to be active that fit with your schedule and lifestyle. This could mean scheduling a couple of hours for a workout, joining an intramural team, or even just finding small moments in your day to stay active and move around.
