Work Out or Study, Which Does More?
By Tom Herrin
There are plenty of kids who would be all about getting out on the playground and doing just about anything rather than spend their time studying. The fact is, there are many adults who may make the same choice. Most people have had the experience of studying for something only to feel some pretty serious burnout. Once they have cleared their minds with some activity, they find that they seem to be able to think better. While exercise may not take the place of studying, it may have a legitimate place along with it.
Choose the Right Exercise for the Brain
People are pretty familiar with selecting exercises based on what they have to offer. Many do so when they want to work on particular parts of the body such as legs, upper body, etc., doing this for the brain may seem a little odd, but the fact is that it has become a reality. According to the European Heart Journal, certain types of exercise may help to improve particular types of brain function. A few examples may be doing aerobics, walking, or cycling for improving memory. They suggest that yoga may be one activity to reduce stress and anxiety. They also mention resistance training as a possible exercise for depression.
Can Exercise Make You Smarter?
For many, if someone told them they could become smarter by exercising more, they would laugh. According to some studies, people who have made a habit of getting quality exercise for quite a long period of time may improve their IQ. It may also help them to score higher on some tests. Apparently doing aerobics can do more than tire people out. It is pretty obvious that providing more oxygen may help brain function to be better.
Why Not Have the Best of Both
If we enjoy working out, and it can help us to preserve mental abilities, it could be a good combination for us. I like exercising and want to keep myself sharp as well. In these times in which there seems to be much attention given to things that may contribute to loss of mental function, I feel it is wise to do all I can to preserve mine. I feel that the more attention I pay to exercising, the sharper I can remain. I feel that it is well worth the effort.
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