Is Running the ULTIMATE Exercise for Students?

As students, it's easy to push our health to the side. Really, most of the time, it just feels inconvenient to focus on our physical wellness, at a time in our lives when eating unhealthy and doing nothing is promoted as the norm, rather than the exception. If we do hit the gym, the goal is likely to work on our physical appearance, before our overall health. However, I truly believe that running, if properly incorporated into your life, can have incredible benefits. Let’s explore this idea.

One of the very first concepts that we don’t really think about in regard to running, is the impact that it has on the brain. Running, due to the increased blood flow and elevated heart rate that it causes, results in elevated blood flow to the brain. Research has indicated that this intense increase in blood flow has the power to generate new neural pathways. This is an extremely important takeaway!


brain LED artwork


Not only are you literally causing “brain growth”, but research has also indicated that running can increase creativity and reasoning capabilities. Think about the impact that this could have… not only does it have the potential to increase your learning and retention capabilities in class, but it also could be the reason that you come up with your next business idea. A large number of billionaires have incorporated either running, or some form of cardiovascular activity into their daily habits. Now, I'm not saying running is a substitute for hard work, but who knows what impact that it may have had on their creativity...


It wouldn’t be fair to overlook the most obvious benefit of running. Everyone knows that running is supposed to be healthy, but I think we should take a look at how it actually can change your body. First, it’s going to make you less prone to injury. Running strengthens your muscles and bones, so if you want to go for a hike, or a kayaking trip, your body is actually physically prepared. Plus, there's nothing worse than having an injury that could have been avoided by simply taking care of your body. Next, it actually makes your lungs and heart work more efficiently. You know that if you hit the gym and start weight training, after a while, your muscles start getting bigger and stronger. Your heart and lungs work the same way. Just as a 30 pound dumbbell might have been hard the first time you tried hammer curls, that first run is going to put pressure on your heart and lungs. Yet, just as your arm grew stronger, and that weight became easy, after a while, your heart and lungs will become stronger, and everyday tasks will become a whole lot easier. Honestly, the most surprising thing that I discovered is that running can actually increase your lifespan. There is research published in the Progress in Cardiovascular Disease journal, which indicated that simply running for one hour can actually add seven hours to your lifespan. Pretty impressive!

silhouette of three women running on grey concrete road


If you’re a college student who doesn’t get stressed out or have occasional anxiety, then this paragraph isn’t for you. However, from my experience, pretty much all of us experience this at one time or another. This is completely normal, and to be expected. Unfortunately, problems often arise when we are unable to find an outlet to relieve this stress. That’s where running comes in. Running has been shown to have almost the same effect on the brain as meditation. When an individual enters that state of intense physical strain and focuses on his or her body’s performance, the worries and stresses that encompass them seem to disappear. This is critical, because it allows the mind to relax and refocus. Interestingly enough, while you’re running, the level of “feel-good” neurotransmitters increase in your brain. This not only makes you feel more relaxed after that morning cardio, but it also likely aids in making your brain more capable of dealing with stress. 


A man standing triumphant on a beach in New Romney while looking out into the water


Really, these benefits are amazing, but they’re not the real reason that I choose to run. I run because it’s something that I hate in the moment. It’s a challenge for me to motivate myself to do it, but when I’m done, I feel amazing. I know I accomplished something that other people aren’t doing. I believe this idea encompasses the main goal of The Gen Z Student, which is to encourage “growth through resilience”. Nothing good in life comes without hard work. We’re all going to make mistakes and suffer both setbacks and challenges. Yet, just like running, when our legs are aching, and we’re thinking that we won’t make it to the end of the run, it’s that small ember of resilience that pushes us forward to the finish line… isn’t it the same for life? 

Popular posts from this blog

How to Stay Productive during Difficult Times

Image
Let's be honest for a minute. It’s not always easy to stay motivated and productive. Especially since most of us are still in quarantine, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's the thing though, hard times in life test us. Yet, they’re also the times that make us grow. Throughout history, so many positive inventions, discoveries, businesses, and even lifestyle changes have come as a result of individuals who had to experience hard times. That made me start to think... How can I leverage this time, when productivity is honestly the last thing on our minds, and use it to grow? What if I look at it as a gift, instead of a hindrance? Over the last month, I’ve come up with a plan for how to effectively use these difficult times to grow, and I’m going to outline my strategy for staying productive - at a time when being unproductive is the easy way out. #1 Sleep Let's get the hardest thing out of the way first. You have to keep a consistent sleep schedule and get up early. This...
Read more

Creating a Successful Morning Routine - a Three Step Approach

Image
The concept of a morning routine is undoubtedly a popular one. If you do a quick search on YouTube, you will find hundreds of videos that either present the “perfect” morning routine, or discuss what successful people do in the morning. However, I want to present a slightly different approach. Yes, having a set list of things that you do in the morning is really helpful. Unfortunately, the issue that many of us run into, is that we’re not all content creators or entrepreneurs who have the flexibility to set aside three hours in the morning. Most of us are students who have a busy schedule. That being said, I want to introduce you to my idea of what a successful morning should really encompass - from a student’s perspective. First off, I don’t think that we should throw the concept of a list of consistent steps entirely out the window. I simply believe that it is absolutely essential that we strive to scale this idea to be tailored precisely to our lifestyle. Any type of routine is ben...
Read more

The Best Strength Training Exercises for Students - No Gym Required

Image
You and I both know that, as students, entrepreneurs, and people that just like to challenge ourselves, we don’t have tons of time on our hands to kill at the gym. Now, please don't think I'm throwing shade at the gym. This is coming from someone that goes to the gym regularly, and enjoys it. Here’s the thing though. Because of the recent closures of pretty much all of our gyms, a lot of us had to make a choice. Either we forget the fitness side of our health, or we suck it up and figure out how to hit that workout with what we have at our disposal. What’s great, is that, as the weather warms up, we can start going outside and utilizing nature in our fitness endeavors. Even as gyms start to reopen, sometimes it's simply more convenient to just hit a quick workout at home, or in the dorms. Let’s take a look at some of the best strength training exercises that don’t require a gym or any special equipment.      First off, let’s start with the most basic exercise. ...
Read more