How to Manage Your Body to Improve Your Mind

752 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: the relationship between physical and psychological health.

How to Manage Your Body to Improve Your Mind
All throughout academia and higher education in general, advice can be found on how to learn or how to more effectively absorb the knowledge that is being presented. While there is plenty of information to be found on how to take notes or how to review for a test. There is the equally important but much less talked about impact of the body and mind connection. The impact of having a body that is malnourished or sleep deprived can greatly affect the minds ability to pay attention to, or recall what has been learned.
While there have been numerous studies involving alcohol or drugs and the effects it can have on the body and mind, the intent of this paper will be to focus on a healthy lifestyle. The effects of a foreign substance in the body are well known to have a negative impact on mental abilities. It would be more advantageous for the majority of people to determine how much time they should devote to sleep or exercise and what kind of foods they should eat. Then armed with this knowledge they could not only feel better, but could perform better.
Why is it important to know how much exercise is enough? Exercise raises serotonin levels, lowers the production of stress hormones like cortisol and if outside can increase the skins production of vitamin D an essential nutrient for strong bones. (More evidence 2011) Dealing with finals can be hard enough but if you add into that missed days from being sick, it might be overwhelming. Moderate exercise can also reinforce your immune system which can help you fight off a cold or the flu. (More evidence 2011) Numerous studies have shown a connection between fitness and improved memory. Frequent exercise leads to increased brain-deriv...

... middle of paper ...

... which lead to lack of sleep or an overtaxed mind. There have been numerous stories of people that skip breakfast in the morning rushing to school, only to find they are unable to focus on the test or lecture due to hunger pains. No matter how well intentioned our study habits are, if the health of our bodies is not up to the challenge it may not be possible to rise to the occasion

References
Cohen I. (1979) Stress and Wound Healing Cells Tissues Organs, 103 134-141 doi: 10.1159/000145004
More Evidence for a Potent Mind-Body Connection (2011). Running & FitNews, 29(6)18-20

Parmeggiani, P.L. Velluti, Ricardo A.(2005) Physiologic nature of sleep. London, GBR: Imperial College Press
Paul, M. Panton, C. & Marzigliano. N. (2008) Do Students With Healthy Habits Perform Better in Their Academics? Proceedings Of The Academy Of Educational Leadership (AEL), 13(2) 47-54

Show More
Related

  • Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise in the Brain

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    The book begins by explaining how important exercise and being active is to our health and well-being. The author then transitions into a story about Naperville Central High School. This high school was in the forefront of a revolutionary new concept that involved vigorous exercise of its students instead of a traditional gym class. This new approach stimulated new research on the brain, and the effects of exercise on the well being of our body and minds. After the introduction of the new fitness programs, the school’s students showed drastic increases in standardized tests, and on normal tests as well.

    Read More

  • Health Belief Model: Condoms and Sexual Risk

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    Glanz, K., Rimer, B.K., Lewis, F.M. (2002). Health behavior and health education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass

    Read More

  • Lack Of Sleep Essay

    1488 Words  | 3 Pages

    It not only affects memory and motor skills but it also affects the body in general. Lack of sleep has shown to weaken your immune system, make a person more vulnerable to common viruses, be a cause of obesity, cause high blood pressure and be a link to depression. (Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Body). It is not good for the brain to get very little sleep, but it is also very dangerous for the body. If person body is sick, or they are battling with depression then there writing process is going to be affects. Nobody has the motivation to write a essay if they are down with the flu, and depression has been a correlation to students doing poor in

    Read More

  • Sleep Deprivation Essay

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    This is also proven by a study, which shows that students who perform worse on their exams seem to be more stressed and suffer from poor sleep quality (Ahrberg, Dresler, Niedermaier, Steiger, & Genzel, 2012). For instance, student A is a freshman at Ball State University. This student only sleeps for 6 hours because of bad sleeping habits and later on he sleeps for only 4 hours because of the new environment which has many factors that affect his sleep schedule such as social life, school activities or extracurricular activities. Then sleep deprivation is starting to affect him. He have a test the next day and studied the whole night and only slept for 2 hours. The next day, while he was having the test, he started to feel very tired, sleepy and stressed. He couldn’t concentrate on the test so he failed the test. He started to feel more stressed because of bad grades which might make him take the course again. He couldn’t sleep for more than 4 hours and these bad cycle repeats. Moreover, high stress could also affect the emotion of the students. It can also cause depression which can significantly decrease the academic performance and grade point average of a student. Stress caused by sleep deprivation can really have a big effect on

    Read More

  • College and Health

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Personal health should be a persons first and chief concern, however in a school environment that values grades over personal well being it can become difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many factors can contribute to bad or poor health in college students, stress is one of the major problems for the majority of college level students; however a poor diet and a lack of sleep may also cause students to fall ill or do poorly in their classes. There are many steps that students can take to ensure that they have a healthy mind and body even in a high stress college environment. Students should strive to maintain a healthy diet, a regular sleep schedule, good personal care and a regular exercise routine in order to sustain their overall well being.

    Read More

  • School Cafeterias and School Vending Machines

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    Furthermore, those unhealthy foods really affect their grades, which in turn, the school grade drops to a “C or D” school in the district. Researchers have shown how unhealthy eating habits have affected high-schoolers in schools. In addition, eating a healthy breakfast in the morning before a big exam, the FCAT in FL, shows an increase in the high-schoolers grades.

    Read More

  • Sleep Deprivation Among College Students

    2230 Words  | 5 Pages

    Research shows that sleep is a necessity in order for someone to be able to perform at their maximum potential. College students are no exception to the rule and are often at a greater risk to suffer from conditions that accompany sleep deprivation. Regardless of the time period, a college student must be well rested in order to perform at his or her best in terms of physical performance, memorization capabilities, and test-taking abilities. Also, without adequate sleep, the person will be more susceptible to illnesses, both mental and physical. In conclusion, I believe that sleep deprivation among college students is extremely common and has a direct effect on how well that student will perform or feel.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay Breakfast

    998 Words  | 2 Pages

    Students are definitely affected if they don’t eat breakfast. Breakfast is a great way Students who eat breakfast have the energy to do everything in class. “One major physical benefit of breakfast that can help school performance is the increase in energy that comes from a morning dose of carbs and protein. Energy provided by breakfast carbs allows children to fully participate in physical activity at school, including physical education, or P.E. classes; recess; and extracurricular activities. Kids who eat breakfast are typically in better health overall as well.

    Read More

  • Cause And Effect Essay: Causes And Effects Of Exercise

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the best ways in how people can improve their overall mood, keep their bones healthy and even live longer, is by being an active person. Fred DeVito stated that “if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn 't change you”; however most people just want exercise just to have a fit body and be healthier without knowing great results. Other effects that exercise has into the body are normalization of glucose, insulin and leptin levels. In other words not only will it make the appearance in a person’s life to look great, but their entire body will have an extraordinary response. In order to have a more fulfilling and enjoyable life, those who are out of shape should participate in regular fitness schedule reginert.

    Read More

  • Biological Clock Essay

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sleepiness can affect your learning abilities for it can cause you to fall asleep in class, thus making learning impossible, and it can make you lose focus of what is being taught. Your ability to solve problems, listen, learn, and concentrate is limited. Constantly drowsy in classes back when I attended high school, I have forgotten important dates, names, and location of important people or events, thus making tests more strenuous from the lack of information I had failed to pick up. Being tired to the point of exhaustion means that you are less likely to perform at your

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Exercise: Drop The Stress

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    Exercise lowers symptoms for stress related illnesses. As people start to perform cardio, their stress levels start to relieve and evolves into a sense of control over their body and life. Once the body learns how to rest, it makes it easier for mind control to take place. Instead of being so overworked over certain feelings, it becomes simpler to think things through. Unfortunately, about forty percent of adults undergo health consequences due to stress (WebMD). This number wouldn’t have been so high if the patients participated in physical activities, such as running, from a young age. Many don’t realize that the small investment they make determines a portion of their future. Remaining physically inactive can serve to be a disservice to one’s body and mind. Since exercise is an outlet for frustration, it can be a healthy and effective way to release these negative

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: Exercise Changed My Life

    1153 Words  | 3 Pages

    Adding exercises into one’s daily routines can change their whole lifestyle. Many people look at exercise as being something just for people who want to lose weight or to become muscle bound, but there are a great deal of benefits that can be received from exercising regularly. Of course gaining muscle and losing fat are the two most popular reasons that usually attract people to the gym, but they make up a small part of the potential benefits that can be achieved with exercise. There are several ways in which I have benefited in my life from exercising regularly, besides just making me bigger and stronger. It has made me become more organized, helped me make better decisions, and motivated me to take on new challenges in life.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Exercise Essay

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    It even helps you test better according to a the Mayo Health Clinic’s statement: “Those who had exercised during the preceding month but not on the day of testing generally did better than those who had been sedentary, but did not perform nearly as well as those who had worked out that morning.” Another internal effect of working out is muscles receiving more blood, higher VO2 level, and helping maintain bone mass. The fitter a person is, the more efficiently their heart works therefore, blood pressure decreases and new healthy blood vessels form. Exercising expands a person’s life cycle because the more someone workouts, the healthier they are. Furthermore, the brain is one part that no one would think exercising has anything to do with, but it’s the main one that is affected. Exercising results in increased brain flow which helps the brain function more efficiently. Also, new brain cells are formed that help boost memory and learning. A number of neurotransmitters are triggered, these are what controls a person’s mood; this is how exercise prevents depression. Working out improves development of neurons, production of nerve protecting compounds, and can reverse brain and muscle decay. There are various positive internal effects that exercise has on people’s

    Read More

  • The Importance of Being Physically Active

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    Exercising helps in many different ways such as gaining muscular strength and ability. A person's desire is to lose weight and have a perfect toned figure, but it also helps ease a lot of other conditions as well. Exercising is considered to be a mood booster. It helps improve self esteem and will lower depression. It will make a person a lot happier, and will help bring a positive reaction in the body. Physical activity is very important for obesity. It is really important for obese children or adults to get some form of exercise in their lives. It can be very beneficial for them and can help prevent long term illnesses. People that exercise on a daily basis do it because it helps them feel more positive about themselves and they will be more energized, motivated and focused for the day. It gives people an excessive amount of happiness.

    Read More

  • How Health Am I? A Reflection on All Aspects of My Health

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    This is an important area of health because regular physical activity keeps your body functioning properly. If you perform sufficient physical activity, you can manage your body weight better, reduce your risk of heart attacks, diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, have stronger bones, joint and muscles while feeling energetic, happy, relaxed and sleep better.

    Read More

More about How to Manage Your Body to Improve Your Mind

Open Document