Reason 2: Build Resilience

Exercise plays a pivotal role in fostering resilience among college students, providing them with the tools necessary to navigate the emotional whirlwind that often characterizes this period of life. According to Broncho Blogs, college life is an emotional roller coaster, and physical activity gives students the emotional fortitude they need to manage its twists and turns. Regular exercise cultivates a more resilient mindset, allowing children to bounce back from failures and meet obstacles with a positive attitude. In such an environment, maintaining emotional fortitude is essential, and exercising emerges as a powerful ally in this endeavor. Exercising cultivates resilience by fostering a sense of accomplishment. Setting fitness goals, whether it's improving endurance, increasing strength, or mastering a new skill, provides students with tangible markers of progress. As they witness their own capabilities and achievements, they develop confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles. This mindset can help with academic and personal challenges. This heightened sense of self-assurance empowers students to confront setbacks with resilience, viewing them as temporary setbacks rather than barriers. HelpGuide says that when faced with mental or emotional challenges in life, exercise can help you build resilience and cope healthily, instead of resorting to alcohol, drugs, or other negative behavior. According to timelycare, the rate of substance abuse (both drugs and alcohol) among college students has risen steadily in recent years. A recent study found that 37% of college students regularly used an illegal drug or abused alcohol. This is a concerning number of college students who are turning to substances to cope with their mental health challenges. A much healthier alternative is exercising, and it is proven by the benefits above. In an interview with Mallory Jones, a licensed professional counselor, specializing in anxiety talks about how as a college student you lose time for yourself. “College takes time away from yourself, and you need to have time for yourself”. Exercise is something that can help you take time out of your day, and just focus on yourself. This helps to build resilience and helps you in the long run. Integrating exercise into college life not only strengthens physical health but also fosters crucial resilience. By setting and achieving fitness goals, students develop a sense of accomplishment and confidence that transcends beyond the gym or sports field. This resilience equips them to navigate the challenges of academia and personal growth with a positive mindset, reducing the likelihood of turning to harmful coping mechanisms like substance abuse. Through exercise, students carve out essential time for self-care amidst the demands of college, nurturing their well-being and fortifying themselves against life's inevitable ups and downs.

Reason 3: Build Community and Accountability

Exercise not only contributes to physical health but also plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community and accountability. Harvard Medical School says that exercise and sports also provide opportunities to get away from it all and to either enjoy some solitude or to make friends and build networks. Engaging in exercise serves as a platform for students to bond, interact, and form lasting relationships. Whether it’s joining a running club at school, participating in a group fitness class, or engaging in a team sport. These shared experiences of exercising and accomplishing together cultivate a sense of comradery among participants. In these settings, students can have a chance to enjoy some moments of solitude, allowing them to unwind and focus on themselves, but also have a chance to grow new connections or strengthen existing ones. When students share their fitness goals with their friends or workout partners, they are held accountable and follow through. This idea of comradery can be seen when I interviewed two of my close friends, Sahaj and Abhishek. Sahaj and Abhishek are both college students at Loyola University. They started their exercise journey together and have been pushing each other to prioritize exercise in their lives. Supporting each other in their workout journey has helped them stay consistent in working out and has helped them build a strong relationship. “We hold each other accountable when one of us falls behind or stops working out” Sahaj told me. 1and1 emphasizes accountability allows you to change your mindset so that you’re more likely to see a challenge through. Research shows that participants have a 65% chance of completing a challenge when they tell a friend about it. But when they commit to meeting up with a person in real life, this number jumps to a staggering 95%. The added support of friends, teammates, or workout partners serve as a powerful motivator to help drive individuals to push past obstacles and finish their goals. In essence, exercise acts as a channel for developing both community and accountability. Students who create relationships, friendships, and support networks through exercising strengthen their commitment to their fitness goals. Another add on is that when students embrace the social component of exercise, they harness the power of accountability. They improve their physical well-being, but also build a sense of belonging and comradery.

Reason 4: Long-Term Benefits

Exercise offers a multitude of long-term benefits. These benefits extend beyond physical health, encompassing mental well-being and overall quality of life. The more important factor to helping you long term is to make exercise a habit. Mayo Clinic says that carving out some time to move every day helps you make your exercise program an ongoing priority. Consistent exercise not only contributes to physical fitness but also establishes a habit that prioritizes personal well-being. By carving out time for exercise each day, individuals reinforce the notion that their health is a non-negotiable aspect of their lives, thus making it a sustained priority. In an interview with Kristina Brooks, the manager at Anytime Fitness in St. Charles, talks about how she sees many individuals in their 40’s and 50’s coming in with various health problems and trying to improve their health. When you create a habit or routine at a young age you make health something that is a non-negotiable aspect of your life. Schedule your exercise with yourself, this holds you accountable. A research article by Frontiers, says that physical exercise is widely proven to not only reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer, but also alleviate various psychological and behavioral problems. Moreover, the long-term benefits of exercise extend to improved longevity and quality of life. By maintaining a consistent exercise routine, individuals not only increase their lifespan but also enhance their overall vitality and functional capacity as they age. Exercise helps preserve muscle mass, bone density, and joint flexibility, thereby reducing the risk of age-related decline and enhancing mobility and independence in later years. Overall, the long-term benefits of exercising are manifold, encompassing physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. By making exercise a consistent priority and embracing its comprehensive benefits, individuals can safeguard their health and vitality for years to come. 

Conclusion 

Looking back on these ideas, the incorporation of exercise into college life emerges as a powerful tool for promoting mental health, resilience, community, and long-term well-being. Amidst the whirlwind of academic pressures and social obligations, exercise serves as a beacon of stability, offering students a means to break free from the monotony of daily routines. Firstly, exercise stands as a scientifically proven method for enhancing mental health. By triggering the release of endorphins and regulating stress hormones, exercise acts as a natural mood booster and stress reliever. These benefits extend beyond the immediate post-workout benefits, contributing to decreased anxiety, improved self-esteem, and better sleep quality. Secondly, exercise fosters resilience by cultivating a mindset of perseverance and adaptability. By setting and achieving fitness goals, students build confidence in their abilities to overcome obstacles, both in the gym and in life. This resilience equips them with the emotional fortitude needed to navigate the challenges of college life with resilience and optimism. Moreover, exercise facilitates the formation of community and accountability. Whether through group exercise classes or sports teams, students can connect with peers who share similar fitness goals. These supportive networks provide encouragement, motivation, and accountability, reinforcing students' commitment to their health and fitness journey. Finally, the long-term benefits of exercise extend far beyond the college years, encompassing physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. By establishing exercise as a non-negotiable aspect of daily life, individuals lay the groundwork for a healthier, more vibrant future. The preventative effects of exercise on chronic diseases and the preservation of physical function underscore its importance as a lifelong habit. In essence, exercise is not merely a means to an end in achieving physical fitness; it is a holistic tool for nurturing the mind, body, and soul. By embracing exercise, college students can break free from the constraints of routine, cultivate resilience, foster meaningful connections, and lay the foundation for a lifetime of health and vitality. As students embark on their academic journeys, let exercise be their steadfast companion, guiding them towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.