Jump Start Your Semester: Balancing Fitness & Academics
Like all areas of life, it’s important to find balance, and that’s no different when it comes to academics and fitness. As busy as life may get, making time for what matters is what will put you on the path to success.
Fitness and education both encourage personal growth, discipline, increasing knowledge, and planning for a better future. There are endless benefits to creating routines that help you reach your goals and see tangible results.
But sometimes, that’s easier said than done. That’s why changing even a few things in your everyday life can make a huge difference in your productivity.
We’ll go over some tips to better balance a busy school schedule and stay active in the gym.
But first, let’s go over some of the benefits of balancing studying with exercise.
Why is Fitness Important for Students?
There are several reasons why it’s crucial to prioritize your health while in school:
- Enhance Academic Performance: When you exercise and eat right, you stimulate new cell production in the brain. Studies show that physical activity improves academic performance. Basic cognitive functions that facilitate learning are, "enhanced by physical activity and higher aerobic fitness” (2013).
- Feel Energized: Regular exercise allows you to keep your body energized and improve your memory. It increases the circulation of oxygen and nutrition throughout the body and releases hormones like dopamine and serotonin, which are crucial for motivation and mood.
- Stay on Top of Tasks: As you learn to juggle school and the gym, it’ll slowly become easier to stay on top of tasks and excel in your studies. And because it boosts those nutritious hormones we just mentioned, you’ll feel more motivated to complete your to-do list with ease.
- Lower Stress: We already know exercise lowers stress and boosts your mood, so it’s a no-brainer that it’s excellent for students. You already have so much going on in the academic world that it can be easy to put your health on the backburner. But staying committed will pay off in the long run and make you feel amazing even after a long day’s work.
Now that we know the main benefits of staying active in school, let’s go over a few tips to help you balance school and health.
5 Tips to Balance Academics and Fitness
- Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is the best way to ensure you have the time every day to incorporate fitness, studying, exams, work, and other responsibilities of life.
Just like you’d schedule a dentist appointment, you should regularly schedule time for workouts and studying. Invest in a calendar and block out times at least 3 days a week for workout sessions that gel with your school schedule. These workouts could be anything: Pilates, weightlifting, cardio, you name it. The beauty of it is that you get to choose how you want to exercise.
It might be difficult at first, but the more you practice, the easier it’ll be to stick to a routine. And the longer you stick with it, the quicker you’ll see results.
2. Set Realistic Goals
The more realistic you are about your journey, the easier it’ll be to stick to. In theory, it’s ambitious to be in the gym for two hours every session, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be able to meet that time. And that’s okay!
The most important thing is to stay consistent. You might do a 30-minute workout one day and a much longer workout the next. As long as you don’t skip when you’re supposed to, then some effort is much better than none.
You might be so busy as a student that you don’t have time to commute to the gym every day. If that’s the case, consider taking online classes to stay healthy and still receive guidance from experienced experts.
Fitness By Maryam wants to make it as easy as possible for you to achieve your fitness goals, which is why we’re happy to offer
discounted rates to students and teachers to support them in their education. Discounts are available to those ages 16+ and include access to all Small Group Training classes, including strength training, Body Slam, Fight Fusion, Breathe & Be, and more.
The more realistic you are about your time and how you can use it, the easier it’ll be to stay consistent and see results.
3. Join The Right Gym
Perhaps the best way to stay motivated to work out is to exercise in ways that you enjoy. You might not be the fondest of running, but maybe strength training is more your speed. You don’t have to conform to one or two types of exercise if it doesn’t excite you to get active.
Another big part of staying active is choosing the right gym and even group classes. For beginners especially, the right facility and instructors can make all the difference in having a positive experience.
Have you considered signing up for a fitness challenge or joining a class? If so, Fitness By Maryam might be the place for you.
Fitness By Maryam is an all-women facility that offers small group training, personal training, taekwondo, yoga, and more.
If you want to boost your fitness journey, join us for
Jump Start, our 6-week fitness challenge that incorporates:
- Nutrition
- Workouts
- Habit building
- Community
- Accountability
This guided challenge runs from September 5th to October 17th. Join us in person at the facility or enjoy your workouts from the comfort of your own home. You’ll gain access to a new nutrition guide every week and will stay accountable through a buddy system so it’s fun and productive!
4. Remember to Rest
Just like it’s important to stay active, it’s just as important to prioritize rest days. Your body requires rest in between workouts to repair muscle tissue, prevent injury, and enhance overall performance.
It might be tempting at a certain point to work out 7 days a week, but too much of anything isn’t good for you. Allow at least 1-2 days per week to rest based on your individual needs, goals, and intensity.
5. Stay Accountable
If you work better by being held accountable, then there are many ways you can do so.
Some people rely on a friend to ensure they complete their tasks. Others set reminders on their phones or prefer an in-person environment so it’s easier to stay motivated.
Fitness classes or challenges are a great way to get your exercise in no matter what your circumstance may be. And because our latest one,
Jump Start, includes a buddy system and weekly check-ins, it’s now easier than ever to stay on track and complete your goals.
Join Us at Fitness By Maryam!
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to us via email, phone call, or stop by the gym for a tour! We offer both in-person and online Zoom classes so you can enjoy working out from anywhere you choose!
You can also check out our upcoming events for this month on Instagram at
@FitnessByMaryam.
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