We all get stressed out some of the time, but things can become even more intense while you are studying. Your studies might take up huge amounts of your time, but as well as day to day learning, you might have to think about things like exams and work placements, all while trying to find the time to exercise, see friends, practice hobbies and cope with the general stress of the modern world. It’s hard and it can often feel too much.
The last thing that you want is for your stress levels to mean that you don’t perform well in exams or assignments, or that you are unable to enjoy your studies and make the most out of the opportunities that they afford you. In the worst cases, stress can lead to more serious mental and physical health problems.
The good news is, there are plenty of things that you can do to help you to minimize and cope with study stress. One of them is running or jogging. Here are some of the ways that this fantastic cardio exercise can help you.
Running Can Help You to Clear Your Mind
If you are studying something like an accelerated nursing program in Texas from Baylor University, chances are you are very busy, there’s a lot to take in, and some of your experiences might be emotionally draining, as well as stressful. You might feel as though there’s always such as lot going on in your head, and no way to get away from it. Running is a chance to escape your studies, get some fresh air, and clear your mind. The act of running itself is very repetitive. You don’t have to focus on what you are doing, just the world around you. This can make it easier to clear your head and relax for a while. Some people find that just running does the trick, but others prefer to listen either to the repetition of their feet hitting the ground, or something like an audiobook or podcast to help them to let go of stress.
It Can Also Help You to Find Solutions
Clearing your head and finding peace is great. But sometimes this time out, away from your studies, with a clear head is exactly what you need to find a solution to something that you have been stuck on for a while. Many people find that they have their best ideas or find solutions to problems when they run. If there’s something that you are struggling to get your head around or make sense of, put your sneakers on and go for a long jog, and you might find that it suddenly makes more sense.
Running Makes You Happy
Running is great for your mental health and stress levels because it releases happy hormones in your brain. When you run endorphins, serotonin and adrenaline are released in your body. These can all make you feel happier, more confident, and more energetic, which is great for stress.
Running Helps You to Sleep
When we’re stressed out, we can find it hard to switch off and sleep. It can also be more difficult to sleep when we’re sat still all-day reading. You might find that your mind is exhausted, but that your body is jittery and filled with energy. Going for a run boosts your energy levels in the short term, but it also tires your body out, making it far easier to drift off and to get a good night’s sleep.
Running Supports Your Immune System
The last thing that you want while you are studying is to come down with a bug, especially if you have exams, an important assignment, or a work placement coming up. But if you are spending a lot of time indoors with your head in a book, your immune system might need a boost. Exercise, and especially exercise outside in the sunshine and fresh air can boost your immune system and support good overall health.
Running Can Boost Your Confidence
Most of us when we’re studying have low confidence moments. We worry that we’re not smart enough, we don’t understand enough, we’re not doing as well as we’d like to, or we can’t make it to the end of the course. This is completely normal when learning anything new. Running gives you a great way to boost your confidence, and defeat any doubts that you might have. Running isn’t easy for everyone, but most of us do get better over time. Even if we’re slow, we get faster, we run further, or we ache less. Making these improvements, however small, and starting to feel as though something is getting easier can be fantastic for your overall confidence.
Exercise Gives You Something to Look Forward to
When you are busy studying, having a run scheduled gives you something to look forward to. You’ll look forward to getting away from your books, the run itself, and also to some time on your own, doing something for you.
How to Fit Running In
We can see that running is worthwhile when it comes to fighting stress, but when you are busy studying, how do you fit it in? Here are some things that you could try:
- Run to or from places that you are already going to
- Concentrate on little and often
- Schedule runs, writing them in your diary
- Run when you first wake up
Can Other Kinds of Exercise Help with Stress?
If you don’t fancy a run, or you don’t enjoy running, you could try to drag yourself out, but it might not be as beneficial. The good news is running isn’t the only exercise that can help you to manage your stress while you are studying. Getting outdoors is great, so going for a walk or bike ride is ideal. But swimming, yoga, dancing, or any other exercise will help too.
When we’re stressed out, it’s more important than ever that we care for our mental health and running can be a fantastic way to do it.