When you are a student, you always have a lot on your plate. Lectures, homework, exams, extracurricular, and other personal chores – all these things are inevitably present in a modern student’s life. And, sometimes, it all gets so intense that coping with it turns out to be too hard for you to handle.
Such a fast-paced life mixed with tons of stress can have a devastating effect on young people’s mental health. As a result, it can lead to a variety of mental issues that can be pretty hard to combat. But is there a way to prevent this and get better mentally? The good news is that it’s possible. And all you need is to get on the move! Read on to learn how making more steps every day can help your mental well-being.
Reduced Cortisol Levels
When studying, experiencing high pressure, and dealing with loads of academic assignments, your body releases lots of cortisol, known as the major stress hormone. Having lots of this hormone released every day due to a hefty academic load can be destructive to your mental health.
Heading on a walk will help relax your muscles and clear your brain. To quickly find time between a load of assignments and work, find professionals with the simple search phrase “write a paper for me” and use the free time you acquire to get on the move. According to studies, after just 20 minutes of walking can significantly reduce the level of cortisol in your body. As a result, you get a positive outlook and a better mood.
Improved Creativity
College students often need to keep their creativity levels high to cope with various academic assignments, such as writing poems, and essays, creating academic projects, etc. But, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that poor mental health does not contribute to your creativity. These two things are connected closely. Without well-being, there can be no creative inspiration. And this is one more area where physical activity can help.
According to a Stanford study, one’s creative output increases by around 60% in the process of walking. This activity boosts mood, helps you find inspiration, and boosts your creativity.
Better Sleep
Due to exam nerves and other stresses inherent in students’ lives, many young people face issues with sleep. Insomnia and other sleep disorders are clear signs of the weak mental health of a person. But, most often, students who face such issues have no idea how to change the situation.
Taking more steps during the day is proven to have a positive effect on your sleep. The trick is very simple. When you stay physically active, your body wastes more energy, and, as a result, you will be more tired in the evening. You will find it easier to fall asleep and get more hours of healthy sleep. Besides, if you go out in the fresh air, this will also help because being in the fresh air regularly also improves sleep quality.
30% Lower Likelihood of Depression
According to experts, depression is one of the most common mental issues students face. It develops slowly and has an accumulative nature. In the early stages, depression can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are still very mild. However, if you do nothing about it, it can reach severe levels and eventually become a huge problem.
According to scientists, one of the most effective ways to prevent and reduce depression is to be physically active. Exercising for 150 minutes a week can help you reduce the likelihood of depression by as much as 30%. But, since most students have very packed schedules, fitting so much exercise into your plan can be hard. But luckily, walking works no worse than going to the gym to reduce depressive thoughts.
Reduced Brain Fog
Compared to anxiety or depression, brain fog isn’t such a well-known term. Nevertheless, it is a common mental health condition that can really get in the way of success in studies and life in general. According to the general definition, the term “brain fog” is used to describe a number of mental symptoms that affect a person’s ability to think. This medical condition can make you disorganized, confused, and unfocused during any activities that involve brain function.
Needless to say, facing such a disorder as a student can make you fail academically and cause a wide variety of additional issues. But that’s one more way walking can help you mentally. Studies show that walking at a moderate pace for at least one hour a few times a week can prevent brain fog. And, if you are already facing it, such activity can help you reduce and eventually eliminate the symptoms.
Higher Endorphins Release
Lastly, there is one more way that regular walks can support one’s well-being. We bet that each of you knows what endorphins are, at least in general terms. Simply put, endorphins are hormones released within our brains and nervous system. These hormones have a number of important physiological features. But, most importantly, they are known to make us feel happier and cause an analgesic effect.
Now, here is one more thing you need to know about walking – doing this for at least 20 minutes a day can significantly boost the number of endorphins released in your brain. As a result, your mood improves, you gain a positive outlook, and you can really start feeling happier.
The Bottom Line
Mental is an incredibly fragile system. When everything around you is going well, you can stay relaxed, positive, and happy. However, as soon as external stimuli become too much, your well-being can start fading, which can affect your physical health and quality of life too.
In students’ lives, such external stimuli are a pretty common thing. Young people are facing lots of stress that inevitably affects their mental health. But luckily, as you now know, you can easily maintain your well-being by simply going on regular walks. Start taking more steps per day, and soon you will notice a positive change!
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