How Exercise Makes you Smarter and a Better Student

Exercise and Academic Performance

Exercise can support physical health and academic performance. Presenter Jay says regular aerobic exercise may enhance cognitive functions—particularly executive function—and strengthen discipline and self-regulation, which may carry over to studying.

Key Strategies and Takeaways

• Focus on near-term benefits to stay motivated: Feeling more energetic, improving your mood, and reducing stress may be more compelling reasons to exercise than distant goals such as weight loss or better health.
• Practice being comfortable with discomfort: Regularly challenging yourself physically can help you handle difficult situations elsewhere, including public speaking and studying.
• Use mindfulness when exercise feels uncomfortable: Rather than immediately trying to escape the burn or discomfort, observe it with curiosity. Jay suggests trying this during a plank and comparing how long you can hold it.
• Start modestly and keep it regular: Professional or Olympic-level training isn’t necessary; exercise that challenges you can still be beneficial. One study discussed participants beginning with two or three exercise sessions per week.
• Build exercise into a broader routine: Exercise is described as a “keystone habit”—a change that may encourage positive changes in other areas. Practicing consistency with exercise may make it easier to maintain healthy habits and a study routine.

Presenters and Sources

• Presenter: Jay, from MedSchoolInsiders.com
• Sources mentioned: International Journal of Sports Medicine study; a 2006 study in the Journal of Health Psychology; a study of 335 adults ages 60–95 (publication not identified in the subtitles); Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit.