Exercise to Curb Test Anxiety

Recent studies show that in addition to cardiovascular benefits, regular exercise can also promote good mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. While test anxiety is a situational type of mental health disturbance, exercise can dramatically reduce the symptoms and help you better cope with stress overall.

Check out these tips for a great anti-anxiety exercise routine:

Exercise aerobically for at least 20 minutes, several times a week. Aerobic exercise is any form of exercise that increases your heart rate over an extended period of time. Common forms of aerobic exercise include brisk walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, or even dancing. Pick something that you enjoy so you will want to continue over the weeks and months to come. If you get tired of it, you may want to change the type of exercise to keep things interesting.

Don't be afraid to sweat. Vigorous exercise like running, jogging, basketball, and others will increase your heart rate and cause you to sweat. Exercise to the point of sweating will help to release toxins from your body and reduce water-weight gain. A good, hard workout will also increase the natural "feel-good" chemicals in your body, which is sometimes referred to as a "runner's high."

Practice deep breathing. While you're exercising, don't forget to breathe deeply from your diaphragm. Deep breathing increases oxygen flow to the brain and muscles, helping your overall concentration and physical performance.

Make it regular. A regular exercise routine (a couple of times a week, for at least several weeks) will lower your overall anxiety level and help you to better cope with stress. If you have a gym membership, plan to go when you have time (or make time!). If the gym isn't your thing, go for a jog around the neighborhood or bicycle around a nearby lake, and have a back-up plan for bad-weather days.

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