College — where students realize a 4.0 GPA is not going to happen like it did in high school.

With such busy schedules, most students feel like they don’t have time to hit the gym. If you knew exercise could make you an A on that upcoming exam, would you change your mind?  

Waking up with some light stretching is a great way to stay alert in those a.m. classes. I always get better sleep after exercising in the evening, which puts me into a routine. Everyone knows that tips like these help out when it comes to focusing in class, but you may not know that recent studies show regular exercise can actually increase your grade point average. 

Students of North Carolina State University have proven that with each hour they exercised a week, their GPA increased by 0.06. If you weren’t shocked by that first statistic, they’ve also found that with each additional hour of exercise, a student’s likelihood of passing all of their credits for the semester increased by one percent. These results were achieved through intramural sports, use of The Rec center, and group fitness workouts.

“Student who participate in regular weekly exercise are more likely to return to school each year and have a higher likelihood of graduating.”

Different styles of exercise are proven to have greater benefits for your brain. The hippocampus, associated with memory, is strengthened through aerobic or cardio exercises. They don’t call it jogging your memory for nothing! Running, jogging, swimming, cycling, HIIT, Pilates, and kickboxing are all ways you can accomplish this.

With the release of endorphins from your workout, negative effects of stress are muted and students are less likely to develop anxiety and depression. Stress due to these two factors can often interfere with school, so releasing those natural painkillers are essential for your mental health and grades. 

Life as a student isn’t always smooth sailing. By building in that extra hour of exercise a week, you can not only boost your GPA, but create a healthier lifestyle in general. Whether you want to improve your memory, get better sleep, or reduce stress, exercise is key.

So, get out, get active, and…

Be well, Auburn. 

Photography: Zoe L.