Expert: Ken Alan - 8/7/2006

Question
Hi. I'm a student and want to exercise to improve my mental performance. How should I schedule my exercise to best do this? To clarify my concern I'll give an example. Eating is good for sports but you won't do well if you eat a big meal just before sports. How can I make exercise and study work together without interfering?


Thanks, Thicht

Answer
Hi,

Good question.  There is no simple answer to it.  It varies from person to person.  You have to try different timing to see what works best for you.  Usually exercise helps clear the mind and reduce stress, so you can study, think, and perform better.  But whether that exercise occurs right before you study or 4 hours before you study is something you need to find out.  It's different for each individual.
Try different exercise at different times to see what impact it may have on you.

By the way, although it seems a similar analogy, eating a big meal before strenuous activity is not the same as exercise's effects on mental performance.  Eating a big meal may or may not effect mental performance.
Hope this helps.