Importance of Exercise

It’s no surprise that exercise is beneficial for the human body, but what exactly does it do for us?

Most obviously, it helps us manage our weight. By working off those extra calories, the body is not required to turn them into fat. Instead of becoming insulation for our organs, they are used up to build muscle, which is both esthetically pleasing as it is beneficial for the facility of other daily activities.

Exercise is also shown to improve our mood, and boost our energy levels. It also improves focus. Therefore a frustrated student with a pile of homework can make a simple half hour stop at the gym to increase mood, concentration and focus, to get the homework out of the way in a breeze afterwards. Half an hour may seem like a lot when you are feeling pressed for time, but thinking about how easy it is to waste a half hour, doing other things to procrastinate which impairs your focus later on can really put things in perspective.

Exercise can be fun, when you know what you are doing and have goals in mind.  My best advice is to do some simple research to find a routine that works for you and will benefit your body in the way it is needed. As a general rule of thumb, at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day is recommended. If you are trying to lose weight, or meet specific athletic goals, more time may be required.

But for this small investment of your time, the rewards will be plenty, and as soon as you see result, you will be hooked.

Sleeping Habits

Most people (especially students) underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep. Of course, we all crave it. But sometimes we sacrifice it for other activities such as studying, or going out with friends.

Sleep plays a critical role in maintaining your immune system, metabolism and memory functions. Which means when we deprive ourselves of it, we are putting ourselves at a much higher risk of developing health problems such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Sleep deprivation also is shown to decrease metabolism and increase hunger. Therefore when you skip those few extra hours here and there, you are more likely to gain a few extra pounds instead. Lack of sleep is also proven to increase stress levels.

In addition, the short-term effects of not getting enough sleep are reduced productivity, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating. This can especially pose a serious danger in the case of operating a motor vehicle, as many fatalities occur simply from falling asleep at the wheel.

The recommended number of sleep for adults is 8 hours a night. It is important to remember that procrastination is what really deprives us of sleep, not the number of hours in the day.