It is easy to be overcome by stress at this point in the academic year. Club activities are in full swing, midterms are around the corner and office hours slots are becoming hot commodities. The nonstop grind is overwhelming and would urge any student to want to curl into bed and doom scroll on TikTok, but an alternative would certainly be more productive. Exercise is the antidote to help increase academic performance, reduce stress and stay in shape overall.
The mental health benefits of exercise are often overlooked. Working out releases endorphins, chemicals within the body that improve wellness. These mood-enhancing chemicals help distract from stress and overall improve confidence levels. Taking time for yourself to decompress is an important part of maintaining a strong psyche. Exercise is a beneficial way to do that.
A study published in The Lancet’s psychiatry journal found that people who exercise have 43.2% fewer poor mental health days a month than those who do not exercise. Exercise is not a bulletproof cure for all bad days, but it does appear to reduce the frequency of being in a low mental state.
“(Working out) definitely improves my motivation because if I work out, I get put into a productive mood to do other things.” Maggie Reef, FCLC ’29
The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) meta-analysis of 49 studies that link better mental health to exercise found that those who are physically active are less likely to develop depression. The recurring sentiment within these studies is clear: Some exercise each day will keep you happier and healthier.
Exercise is also directly correlated to an increase in intellectual engagement and academic performance. Another study published by the NIH worked to find the relationship between physical activity and academic performance among university students. Through oxygen rates, the study found a direct relationship between higher academic performance and physical exercise.
Maggie Reef, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’29, feels the connection between academic performance and physical exercise. Her academics benefit from her exercise not only through an enhanced academic performance, but also through her increased productivity levels.
“(Working out) definitely improves my motivation because if I work out, I get put into a productive mood to do other things,” she said.
Ultimately, motivation from exercise carries over into academics, keeping you at the top of your game while you study and complete assignments.
Fordham offers students many opportunities to work out for free. RamFit is an on-campus gym with both cardio and strength-based workout options. Sarah Kahl, FCLC ’29, uses RamFit as an outlet to “distract (her) from all the stress of (her) schoolwork.”
RamFit offers weekly classes that will both build strength and community. The schedule includes multiple options: Lean and Tone classes, Pilates classes and yoga. More details regarding the schedule can be found on the Fordham Lincoln Center Fitness Page, where you can join the Google Calendar to get updated RamFit class times.
Living in the city, there are a plethora of options to find exercise, both free and membership-based. Fordham at Lincoln Center is surrounded by countless gyms, dance classes and workout groups.
Reef often seizes the opportunities around her, finding classes that fit her workout style best. She goes to Solidcore classes, which are a similar workout to Pilates at a Legree studio. Reef also maintains her love for dance by taking classes at Broadway Dance Center. Though both activities do cost money, she is able to use her student ID to get a 25% discount.
Whether it’s a walk in the park, a group fitness class, or a solo gym session, movement of any kind provides an effective mental reset.
“I always leave feeling better about myself,” Reef said. “(It) lowers my anxiety a lot.”
Looking to save money? Join a run club. Free run clubs can be found on nycforfree.co/runclubs. They have a ton of different run clubs based on time, location, identity and more. FCLC has a run club called Run@LC. They are currently hosting a mileage challenge for October via Strava, where winners get Fleet Feet gift cards.
Better on your own? Take a walk down the entertaining streets of Manhattan, with Times Square, Broadway and Rockefeller Center — all within a mile radius of the FCLC campus. If the streets seem overwhelming, get some fresh air in Central Park, just two blocks away from campus. Kahl relies on her daily walks in Central Park for exercise.
“It gives me a brain break outside of class,” she said.
With steep workloads and schedules, brain breaks are crucial to maintain a strong, positive mindset. Exercise is a mood regulator that will help you return to your work with mental clarity. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a group fitness class, or a solo gym session, movement of any kind provides an effective mental reset.
All in all, there are an endless number of options to find exercise, so do not be afraid to seek out these opportunities. Dedicating thirty minutes to an hour a day to exercise will do wonders for your mental health, so get moving.