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Under Pressure...

When we’re under pressure with midterms and papers to write, the last thing many of us college students think about is getting some exercise. Instead, we try to save as much time as possible, eating fast food and drinking coffee, soda, and sugary energy drinks to keep us awake at night. It may feel like you’re saving time in the short term, but in reality you’re damaging your body.

You'll feel lazy and sluggish eating all that fast food, and with very little sleep and exercise, it will be hard to pay attention in class. Being under constant stress also causes you to gain weight faster, and because your body is too weak to fight off germs you’ll notice that you get sick a lot more often. Once you’re in this situation, you’ll fall behind and will struggle to catch up all semester.

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Believe it or not...     

exercise can help you work faster & save time. Exercise helps your body relax, so when you’re stressing out over that next exam, doing some exercise first might be a good idea. You'll have more energy, making it easier to focus and get your work done quickly. Paying attention in class will also be easier. And because your body is stronger and healthier, it will be easier to fight off germs, so you won’t lose time trying to recover from a cold!

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The trick to staying healthy...     

is to find an activity that is good for you but is also fun. This way, you'll want to do it every day. You can do something rigorous like hiking or swimming, or something simple like taking a walk around your block. For me, 15-20 minutes of running (outside with fresh air) usually keeps me energized and healthy. At times I also call up some friends to go throw a football around when we have time. If you need some extra motivation, try to find a workout buddy and play basketball or some other sport that interests you. Give it a try, you will appreciate the benefits in the end.