Tips for Dealing with Mental Health: Physical Activity

This week, here’s another valuable tip to enhance mental well-being: carve out some time in your daily routine to engage in physical activity. Exercise has been scientifically proven to not only boost mental health but also enhance academic performance—a particularly advantageous insight for college students. Aerobic exercises encompassing activities like walking, running, cycling, swimming, and dancing have demonstrated efficacy in reducing anxiety and depression while fostering improved self-confidence.

These positive outcomes are attributed to the surge in blood flow to the brain induced by exercise, coupled with benefits such as distraction, increased self-efficacy, and opportunities for social interaction. In adherence to COVID guidelines, a safe yet socially engaging option is organizing COVID-friendly walks with friends around campus—an opportunity to talk, stay active, and prioritize well-being.

For a lighthearted and physically engaging alternative, consider activities like playing “Just Dance” with roommates in the living room—a fun way to stimulate blood circulation while enjoying social moments. If group activities aren’t your preference, solo walks or utilizing aerobic machines at the gym remain equally effective. Notably, these aerobic exercises are also linked to enhanced academic performance by positively influencing memory retention.

A study conducted at the University of British Columbia discovered that regular aerobic exercise contributes to an increase in the size of the hippocampus—a key region of the brain associated with verbal memory and learning. Dedicate just 30 minutes to an hour of your day to engage in cardiovascular exercises, and you’ll reap multifaceted benefits. With the campus gym now open and various options available to elevate your heart rate—whether outdoors or in your living space—it’s undoubtedly worth exploring for a healthier and more invigorated lifestyle.