Physical health equals mental wealth
What is good for the body is good for the brain.
After returning from a summer of rest and relaxation, the back-to-school season can be highly stressful for students. As summer ends and fall begins, some students may be feeling seasonal depression (SAD), a type of depression triggered by a change of season. Some of us may be feeling a little panicked as well. Students often feel the need to start the school year off on the right foot and—with the pressure to succeed—students can feel anxious, overwhelmed, and have trouble sleeping. This can cause students to procrastinate on getting ahead, leading to an overwhelming pile of work and stress further down the line. One’s mental health is crucial in transitioning from summer back to school, and improving our physical health is one way to boost our mental wealth.
According to Walden University, exercise increases endorphin levels, which helps with depression and anxiety. Additionally, regular physical exercise decreases stress, improves self-confidence and self-esteem, and improves your sleep patterns. However, it is even more beneficial for students. As the article says, “Studies on mice and humans indicate that cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells—a process called neurogenesis—and improves overall brain performance. It also prevents cognitive decline and memory loss by strengthening the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.” The brain-boosting benefits of exercise will aid students in their transition during this back-to-school season and help rid themselves of unwanted mental health decline during this stressful time. Moreover, individuals can experience the benefits of regular physical exercise for as little as 20 minutes per day. Consider taking a nice, swift walk on UTM’s nature trails. Physical activity may seem like a hassle, but UTM’s resources are endless!
Most often, students do not realize what is included in their membership for the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC), which has already been paid for in your incidental fees. As it states on the RAWC’s website, “This membership gives access to our state-of-the-art Fitness Center group fitness classes, UTM Intramurals, Drop-in Sports, squash courts, tennis courts and beach volleyball.” This student experience is designed to improve your mental health and physical well-being.
UTM Intramurals is another great way to make some friends and compete for recreation while getting some physical exercise. Students can sign up to join a team or register their own team to play various sports in tournaments. They offer sports such as basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, badminton, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, cricket, and even spikeball.
Suppose a student wants to play a sport more competitively at a higher level. In that case, UTM also offers students the opportunity to participate in tri-campus sports, which include men’s and women’s leagues for soccer, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, cricket, and ultimate frisbee.
If you do not have the time to commit, that’s no sweat, drop-in sessions are for you! They require absolutely no commitment and are always occurring at the gyms in the RAWC. Check out their calendar for more information. They offer a variety of fun sports and activities, everything from basketball to pickleball.
Finally, it’s important to note UTM’s mental health and well-being resources, such as the Wellness Den and numerous mental health support. The Wellness Den “is a dedicated space on campus that features daily wellness-inspired opportunities to support student learning and success. The Den is open to all UTM students. Brought to you by the UTM Health & Counselling Centre.”
UTM offers endless resources to students to encourage physical activity, community building, and mental health and well-being. And don’t forget what I said earlier, physical health equals mental wealth!
