Back to Campus: The Benefits of Exercise for College Students

The transition back to campus after summer or winter break can be stressful, to say the least. Schedules packed full of class, work, and family responsibilities—a student’s calendar books up quickly. It’s a painful reality that finding time to work out rarely gets top priority. And, likely due to this, it’s estimated that nearly 50% of college students are—GASP—inactive!

Inactivity can be an unexpected challenge many young adults face for the first time when they leave home and gain the independence that comes with college. And while freedom is undoubtedly exciting, being in charge of your well-being for the first time can be overwhelming.

For example, mental health is an area of concern, with 40% of college students suffering from depression and 60% reporting increased anxiety and stress levels. Considering these facts, it’s not surprising that the overwhelming majority of college students agree they could benefit from therapy. 

Now, if your campus provides counseling services, take advantage of those programs! 

Another resource we recommend that can help to boost health and wellness across the board: regular exercise. 

The good news? You don’t have to care for your health alone. Find an affordable fitness center near campus for support and expert guidance when you need it. 

Whether you’re returning to campus after break or enrolling in your first semester, ensure you take time to schedule physical activity to keep your grades high and your mind sharp. That’s right — there are some major benefits of exercise for college students.

Top Benefits of Exercise for College Students

The benefits of working out are almost too many to name—here are a few that may be new to you—and college students are no exception. 

While by no means exclusive, here are a few of our favorite benefits of exercise for college students:

1. Physical Health. The most obvious benefit of exercise is improved physical health. More specifically, exercise leads to improved brain and gut health, which reduces the risk of chronic diseases and improves daily activities, mood, energy levels, sleep, and overall quality of life.
2. Strength. Imagine being able to lift heavier loads over time rather than passing off challenging tasks to others around you. Even half an hour of strength training each week can improve functional fitness, making that bag of heavy textbooks much easier to lug across campus.
3. Confidence. When your body feels good, you feel good. Regular exercise increases self-confidence, whether trying a new class or making a new friend in the library. 
4. Mental Health. Adjusting to adulthood is one of the most stressful transitions in a human’s life. And mental health can be particularly fragile during these years. Whether it’s hitting the gym four times a week or taking a 20-minute walk a few mornings before class, regular movement significantly boosts mental health.
5. Improved Mood. Hello, endorphins! Not only does exercise have long-term benefits, but it also contains almost instantaneous rewards. Endorphins and other mood-boosting hormones make you feel better within the first few minutes of working out. 
6. Lower Stress. Another near-instantaneous benefit of hitting the gym is reduced levels of stress. Since stress is a challenge for college students, this benefit is one of our favorites. And especially make sure you don’t skimp on your fitness routine during midterms and finals. 
7. Stability. Regular physical activity leads to serenity throughout other areas of life. When effectively managing stress and building confidence, it’s easier to handle other surprises life can throw at you, whether that’s a lower-than-expected mid-term grade or a change in major.
8. Improved Academic Performance. While you may not have realized it then, those after-school sports practices were an excellent grade booster in high school. While most high school athletes don’t play at the college level, physical activity can still improve academic performance. You just have to be a little more intentional about getting yourself moving between other commitments. 

So, why don’t more college students work out?

Simply put: Time management. The newfound freedom students find themselves with when attending college means that most are managing their schedules for the first time. And that’s not easy! 

When it comes to college students and exercise, the two aren’t always a match made in heaven. But with a little habit-forming and the right priorities, college students won’t regret making exercise as important as their other responsibilities.

How to Balance Exercise and School as a College Student

The most considerable resistance to regular exercise is finding the time. Rushing from class to class, to work to the library, leaves little time for working out. 

But even if your campus doesn’t have a state-of-the-art fitness center, we have a few tips for finding time to build a fitness routine. Because the fact of the matter is exercise benefits college students. No matter what time of day. There’s no denying it! 

Squeeze in some movement throughout the school day with these tips:

• Stretch during study breaks. Library all-nighters shouldn’t be sedentary. Take a 7-10 minute break each hour to stretch and move.
• Bike to class. Ditch your car and bike to class. If you live too far to bike, you can still add movement to your commute by parking in the farthest spot and walking from class to class.
• Studying doesn’t have to be a sit-down task. Explore nearby hiking trails while listening to an audio version of your class notes. 

Whether you’re looking to benefit from the scientific correlation between exercise and grades or hoping to care for your mental health throughout the college years, finding time to balance exercise and school is an essential task for young adults to conquer.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Exercise?

While exercise is an overwhelmingly positive habit to cultivate, be aware that there can be too much of a good thing. College students and young adults are at particular risk of overexercising during times of stress. 

Not only can overexercising strain joints and weaken muscles, increasing the risk of injury, but excessive exercise can lead to addiction, more anxiety, depression, and certain eating disorders. Paying attention to body signals and allowing time for recovery between workouts is crucial. Exercise experts recommend a day off after a hard workout to strengthen muscles. 

If you’re worried that your fitness routine is getting out of hand, ask yourself if it interferes with other activities, affects studying and grades, or leads to guilt. Consult a nutrition counselor, student health professional, or doctor for support and more information. 

Whether cultivating a workout routine for the first time or keeping up with a habit you love, Planet Fitness proudly offers affordable and accessible gym memberships with thousands of locations nationwide with amenities and group fitness offerings that rival any campus fitness center.* 

But the best news is that you don’t have to leave your dorm room to begin. Get started now for free on the PF App.

*Amenities and Perks subject to availability and restrictions. See home club for details.