Living an Active Lifestyle

Living an Active Lifestyle

Almost everyone knows that exercise is important to staying healthy. It is frequently said that exercise should be done more often, especially in the context of personal appearance. What is not often heard, however, is how failing to exercise can be harmful. Everyone has a responsibility to take care of their body, and how well it is cared for will determine the longevity and quality of one’s life. There are many ways to incorporate exercise into a daily routine which include walking faster, taking the stairs, joining a recreational club, and getting a friend to be active with. As a college student, it is easy to get caught up in the daily struggle of balancing a full work load with trying to make time for oneself. However, being physically active will help students live longer, feel better, and ultimately achieve more.

According to the American Heart Association, physical inactivity is defined as not getting the recommended 30-60 minutes, 3-4 times a week of aerobic exercise. Sixty percent of Americans report that they do not get this much exercise. Three-fourths of all jobs in America require sitting at a desk and only a quarter of all jobs are physically active. While being a university student involves a good deal of moving around campus, in the near future most students will go on to acquire a white collar job which will keep them pinned to a chair. Many people may already be experiencing long hours at a desk job combined with school work, which takes up a lot of their time. Despite being very tired from a long day of classes, work, and school, it is very important that students make time for physical activity to avoid negative effects on their health.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, not getting the recommended amount of exercise is estimated to be the main cause for approximately 25% of breast and colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and approximately 30% of heart diseases. It also causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Being inactive doesn’t just hurt the body physically, it also affects mental health. People who live sedentary lifestyles are more prone to depression and anxiety disorders, as well as much higher levels of stress when compared to those who live active lifestyles. High levels of stress affects memory, focus, social skills, and judgment among many other things. Evidently, being inactive can have some very negative effects on people’s lives, and with unnecessary stress, can even affect their ability to perform well in school and on the job.

The best way to avoid these preventable health problems is to be physically active. Aside from just preventing serious health problems and boosting your immune system, being physically active has numerous benefits. Some of these benefits include higher confidence, self-esteem, and increased sex drive, which lead to better social and romantic relationships. The National Sleep Foundation reports that people who exercise regularly are more likely to have higher quality sleep than those who are sedentary. They also found that people who simply spent less time sitting during the day slept better at night. Exercise also causes your brain to release chemicals called endorphins that put you in a good mood. Studies have shown that when people are more active they tend to make healthier eating choices as well (Chapter 2). When these positive effects come to together, stress will be reduced, and physical and mental health will improve.