On the Move

On the Move

By Erica Mooney

How Exercise Fuels Your Fire

Imagine your iPhone alarm clock screaming in your ear at 5:00 a.m. sharp. You scramble to put on athletic clothes and sloppily tie the laces on your battered tennis shoes without a second thought. Within five minutes total, you are out the front door and surrounded by a peaceful, still silence that only the pre-sunrise world can offer to those self-disciplined enough to experience it. Senior social science education major Amber Johnson has lived this scene more times than she can count. For Johnson, a roughly four-mile run constitutes her everyday routine. Whether rain or snow, sun or clouds, Johnson kick-starts her morning with jogging to clear her head. A former member of the Millikin University track and field team and now an assistant cross country coach at Clinton High School, Johnson is no stranger to the benefits of daily exercise. She manages to make her physical health a priority despite

her hectic schedule. “Some days are harder than others to get up early and make it happen,” she says. “But I always feel much better afterwards. That’s what keeps me going.”

The natural uplift Johnson perceives does not come from her imagination. Studies from the Mayo Clinic show that exercising for an average of thirty minutes every day improves mood and contributes to a higher drive to complete tasks. For college students facing multiple deadlines that seemingly pile on top of each other with no end in sight, a surge in motivation can make or break the quality of an assignment and may even determine whether or not a student completes the work at all. “Besides feeling accomplished after I run, I’ve noticed I’m able to concentrate much easier on my schoolwork,” shares Johnson. “My determination to succeed honestly skyrockets, and I don’t allow myself to get distracted nearly as much.” Beyond the advantage of increased focus and productivity, a moderate amount of daily exercise releases beneficial hormones, such as serotonin and endorphins, that make you feel happier. The noticeable lift in mood helps college students because stress, packed schedules, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility characterize the college experience no matter what institution you attend. Johnson says, “If I didn’t run regularly, I definitely think my mood would suffer the consequences.” If you decide to allocate time every day to exercise like Johnson, you will simultaneously take control of your school circumstances and refuse to let the stresses of your classes overtake your peace of mind and health. As Johnson’s testimony proves, you don’t have to give yourself a constant pep talk to concentrate and finish the massive final project you’ve steadily been doing all semester. Rather than grudgingly forcing yourself to sit and study, you can instead empower yourself through a brief activity that prompts your heart to pump a little faster and your mind to think a little quicker. So next time you feel yourself sliding into an inescapable slump, consider dropping what you’re doing and spurring your body into action. 9 My determination to succeed honestly skyrockets “

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